DAMIEN DIAZ
Ballet
Damien Diaz was born in Montebello, California
and began his first ballet training in Miami, Florida with Thomas Armour and
Renee Zingraft. He was a full scholarship student at the North Carolina
School of the Arts, The School of American Ballet in New York City, the
Alabama School of Fine Arts and the Houston Ballet Academy. At the age of
seventeen, Damien performed his first professional full length “ Swan Lake “
as Prince Siegfied as well as the Cavalier in “ The Nutcracker “ and Romeo
in “ Romeo and Juliet “ with Ballet South under the direction of Dame Sonia
Arova. He then accepted a corps de ballet contract with the Zurich Ballet of
Switzerland under the direction of choreographer Uwe Scholz. After the fall
of the Berlin wall, Damien followed director Uwe Scholz to the Leipzig
Ballet, Germany, where he became a soloist and later a principle dancer.
His roles with the Leipzig Ballet where Prince Desire in the full length “
The Sleeping Beauty “, the lead male dancer in “ Symphonie Fantastique “,
the lead male in Beethoven’s “ 7th Symphony “, Adam in Haydn’s “ The
Creation “ and the lead male of “ Bach Creations “. Damien has danced as a
guest artist with the Stuttgart Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Tokyo Ballet,
Dallas Ballet, Tuzer Ballet, Warsaw Ballet, Dance Theatre of Vienna, Clair
Obscur Dance Company and the world renown Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo
in New York City. He was resident choreographer for the California Riverside
Ballet and has choreographed the musical event “ The Silence Is Broken “ at
the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles. Damien currently lives in West Hollywood,
California and is the Ballet Master of the Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles.
Pilates for Dancers
Body Arts and
Sciences ( BASI ) certified Pilates instructor
Pilates is an
essential training for dancers, athletes, and those recovering from injuries
or simply wanting to avoid them. Pilates movements are initiated from the
very core of the body creating powerful, controlled movements with optimal
strength and maximum flexibility. Pilates also develops and improves a mind
to body connection essential for precision of technique and injury
prevention. Originally and still used as a form of physical therapy, Pilates
has developed into a foundation for physical endurance and aesthetic which
is a huge part in defining and preparing today’s professional dancers for
the rigorous demands of their profession. As a result of Pilates, muscles
become leaner and stronger and movement become light and effortless. Dancers
who practice Pilates have experienced less injuries and longer careers.
Purpose : Overall
strength, especially core strength, Flexibility, injury prevention
create and/or
improve the mind body connection for the dancer
Format : 60 minutes
mat class focusing on foot work, abdominals, hip work, spinal articulation,
arm work, stretches, full body integration, lateral flexion with rotation,
additional footwork, back extension
Attire : Dance
clothes, sweats, form fitting tops for abdominal cueing
Equipment : yoga
mats
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