November 15, 2013
Barre and “Bluebird Variation” from Sleeping Beauty
Maria Teresa del Real was born in Miami, Florida. As a young dancer she won a bronze medal at the Varna International Ballet competition in Bulgaria, considered the Ballet Olympics at the time. She became the first American to win a medal at an international ballet competition in almost ten years. During her illustrious career she had the privilege of partnering dancers such as Rudolf Nureyev, Fernando Bujones, Jose Manuel Carreno and Carlos Acosta, among others, and has performed leading roles in many major ballets, including Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, and Sleeping Beauty. She held the position of prima ballerina with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Royal Ballet of Flanders and English National Ballet.
