Dr. Maria Torija of BalletMet will explore the world of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes through artistic, sociopolitical, and cultural perspectives, focusing particularly on the collaboration between Marie Laurencin and Bronislava Nijinska, the first female choreographer, in the ballet Les Biches.

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About Dr. Maria Torija

Dr. Maria Torija, the Academy Director at BalletMet, was born in Madrid, Spain. Dr. Torija began her ballet studies with Lola de Avila, Luis Fuentes and Carmen Roche. At the age of thirteen, she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study for three years at the School of American Ballet in New York. After a short stint with the Ballet Nacional de España Clásico, she began her 20-year career as a dancer with the Deutsche Oper Berlin ballet company, currently the Staatsballett Berlin. During her time in Berlin, Maria performed in solo and principal roles in numerous classic ballets, including works choreographed by George Balanchine, Maurice Bejart, John Neumeier, William Forsythe, John Cranko, Jiri Kilian and Kenneth McMillan among others.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ballet Teaching, and graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s and PhD in Performing Arts from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, in Madrid. She also has an extensive teaching resume. Beginning with the Opera Ballet of Deutsche Oper Berlin, she has served as a faculty member at the Palucca Hochschule für Tanz, Dresden. Maria has participated in seminars and has been invited to teach classes throughout Europe, Japan and Hong Kong and the United States.

Installation of Marie Laurencin: Sapphic Paris by Luke Stettner