MARIO LABRADOR

Principal • Joined Colorado Ballet in 2021

Hometown: Antioch, CA

Mario Vitale Labrador was born in Antioch, CA. At the age of 10, he began his ballet studies under the tutelage of Ronn Guidi. At the age of 19, Mario attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. During his time at the Academy, Mario performed as the lead in many school productions, including their production of La Fille Mal Gardee, Paquita, Harlequinade and Classical Symphony. In 2012, Mario graduated top of his class and joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre. As a Soloist, he performed a number of lead roles in classical ballets such as Albrecht in Giselle, Blue Bird in Nacho Duato's Sleeping Beuaty, Pas De Trois in Swan Lake, Count Cherry in Chippolino, French Couple in The Nutcracker, Colas in Yuri Borlaka's La Fille Mal Gardee, Lead dancer in Asaf Messerer's Class Concert, and Pushkin in Lar Lubovitch's The Bronze Horseman. In 2016, Mario left the Mikhailovsky Theatre, where he took a two year break from ballet. In 2018, Mario joined Central West Ballet as a Principal, and performed the lead roles with the company.  In 2021, he joined Colorado Ballet as a Soloist and was promoted to Principal later that year.

His notable roles with the company have been Albrecht from Giselle, Cavalier from The Nutcracker, The Emerald Officer from Septime Webre's The Wizard of Oz, Lead Male in George Balanchine's Theme and Variations, Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, Jirí Kylián’s Sinfonietta and Petite Mort, Dracula in Michael Pink's Dracula, Armand in Val Caniparoli's Lady of The Camellias, The Prince in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella, Purple Couple and Red Couple in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.