Irma Contreras (born 1928) is a former dancer, choreographer, and ballet teacher. She is part of the 1940s generation of Venezuelan dancers. She created and founded the National Ballet of Venezuela with her sister .

Career

Contreras began her ballet studies in Caracas with Argentine teachers Hery and Luz Thomson in an experimental class that opened at the Andrés Bello School around 1945. In 1948 she entered the

National Ballet School Canada's National Ballet School, also commonly known as the National Ballet School of Canada, is a classical ballet school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Along with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, it is a provider of professional ballet t ...

, directed by Nena Coronil. Together with Vicente Nebrada, she travelled to Cuba in 1952 and danced in the

Alicia Alonso Alicia Alonso (born Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martínez del Hoyo; 21 December 1920 – 17 October 2019) was a Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer whose company became the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1955. She is bes ...

Ballet. Upon her return to Venezuela she entered the newly created Ballet Nena Coronil in 1953. During the

Marcos Pérez Jiménez Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez (25 April 1914 – 20 September 2001) was a Venezuelan military officer and the dictator of Venezuela from 1950 to 1958, ruling as member of the military junta from 1950 to 1952 and as president from 1952 t ...

government, Contreras applied for a scholarship to study abroad, to expand her knowledge of ballet; the scholarship was granted and, with Nebreda and Graciela Henríquez, she travelled to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. While in France, she danced with the ballet companies of Jean Guelis and Paul Goubert. In 1957 she returned to Venezuela and founded the National Ballet of Venezuela with her sister Margot, the first professional ballet company in the country. Irma Contreras has been a guest teacher of numerous ballet companies and has taught workshops on the

Cecchetti Cecchetti () is an Italian surname derived from the male given name Cecco. Notable people with the surname include: * (born 1944), Sammarinese politician * Alex Cecchetti (born 1977), Italian artist, poet and choreographer * Domenico Cecchetti ...

Method. In 2004 she published the book ''Danza Clásica, nomenclatura y metodología'' (English: ''Classical dance, nomenclature and methodology'').

Choreographies

Originals

* Estudio en Do mayor (Bizet) * Contrapunto (Bach) * Arcanas (Varese)

Based on others

* Don Quijote (pas de deux) * El Corsario (pas de deux) * Aguas primaverales * Las Sílfides * El lago de los cisnes (segundo acto)

Awards

* 1983: Premio Consejo Nacional de Cultura de Danza Clásica. * 2004-2005:

Premio Nacional de Danza The National Dance Award () of Spain is an annual prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture since 1988 and regulated by the Royal Decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant ...

* 2008: Orden Mérito al Trabajo, renglón Danza Clásica

References

Bibliography

* PAOLILLO, Carlos. Una aventura, un hito. Ballet Nacional de Venezuela 1957–1980. Editado por Asociación Civil Publicaciones La Danza. Producción e impresión: Ediplus producción, C.A. Caracas, 2004.

External links

Todo es historia. El Centro de Investigación, Documentación e Información del Instituto Universitario de Danza realizó una exposición que representa la primera aproximación a la historia de la danza escénica venezolana.

Historia: Ballet Nacional de Venezuela. Autor: Carlos Paolillo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Contreras, Irma 1928 births Living people Entertainers from Caracas Venezuelan choreographers Venezuelan women choreographers Dance teachers Venezuelan female dancers Venezuelan dancers