BERNADETTE TORRES

ACADEMY PRINCIPAL

Bernadette Mirentxu Torres grew up in San Diego, California, and began her ballet
studies at the age of six. She attended intensives at American Ballet Theatre- New York,
Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet where she was offered a year-round scholarship,
and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Additionally, she was offered a trainee position with
the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. As a pre-professional, Ms. Torres competed in the Youth
America Grand Prix, attending the New York Finals and the World Ballet Competition
attending the Orlando Finals.

At the age of 17, she received her first company contract with the San Diego Ballet and
rose through the ranks to Principal by the age of 22 with the California Ballet. In her first
year as a professional, Ms. Torres was approached by the Artistic Director to begin
teaching in the school due to her keen eye for detail and technical understanding. This is
where she discovered her passion and curiosity for teaching.

Wanting to explore more, as a dancer, she transitioned to being a freelance artist where
she traveled and worked with many international directors, choreographers, and artists.
She performed in several international galas within the United States and Europe,
receiving the “Riconoscimento al Talento” and the “Riconoscimento alla Carriera” awards
in Italy. She was a dancer, dance captain, and assistant choreographer with the San
Diego Opera, working with the company for over 10 years in the operas Tannhauser,
Aida, Romeo and Juliet, Rigoletto, Turandot, Samson and Deliah, Ballo, Don Quixote, La
Traviata, and La Cenerentola.

While building her reputation as an artist, she was also building her reputation as an
instructor known for her care of each individual dancer, attention to detail, technical
expertise, communication skills, adaptability, patience, and command of the studio. In
addition, Ms. Torres has choreographed several original works, both classical and
contemporary, for various dance companies and schools. She has been a guest judge in
Italy and the USA for competitions and performance casting. Ms. Torres has also enjoyed
being a guest master teacher for schools, summer intensives, and companies.
Ms. Torres opened her first business, Happy Hour Pilates and Wellness in January 2020.
Her passion for Pilates, anatomy, and helping people from all walks of life feel better was
her driver for opening her doors. In September 2020, after years of teaching ballet, she
opened her second business, the Torres Di Dio Ballet Program (TDBP). As the Artistic
Director of TDBP she created a program intent to meet the needs of students and parents
seeking quality education, in a more personalized environment. Emphasizing technique,
artistry, anatomy, dance history, and the business of dance, Ms. Torres’ students and
program earned recognition in the city of San Diego as being a school with excellent
technique, a true focus on the student as an individual, and equipped with an innovative
business strategy. Her students have placed at major competitions, earned year-round
and summer intensive scholarships at prestigious schools, and have obtained spots in
BFA programs nationally.

An avid supporter of continuing education, Ms. Torres holds an AA in Accounting with
Honors from Southwestern College and a BS in Business Administration-Management
from San Diego State University. Additionally, she hold certifications in the Progressing
Ballet Technique, the Royal Ballet School Teacher Training- Continuing Education
Webinars, BASI Pilates, BASI Pilates Masters, Pilates for Dancers, Pilates for Pregnancy
and Beyond, Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies, and NASM-CPT. Annually, Ms. Torres
attends conferences in Pilates, Dance, and Business as she believes education and
continuous growth are lifelong practices.

Bernadette Torres is elated to join the Colorado Ballet Academy Team and to help shape
the next generation of artists.