The City of Angeles ballet is both a marvel and a blessing in this day and age and is a gift to the people of Los Angeles.
Discipline, self-confidence, dedication are the hallmarks of this amazing arts organization which exposes underprivileged young children to the world of classical dance. Most of whom would never have had an opportunity do so without the existence of the City of Angeles Ballet and it’s director Mario Nagara!
Mario’s extensive training, dedication and performance legacy is passed down to the next generations of young dance hopefuls. He oversees the entire operation with conviction, passion and grace and you see the motivation of these young children when you watch them perform! The lessons that are learned at the City of Angels Ballet will go far beyond class room as these students will take their place in the world with their heads held up high.
I cannot shout loud enough about how important City of Angels Ballet is to Los Angeles...Please tell everyone you know about this wonderful Gem, which we are so very lucky to have in our own backyard!
i've always been hesitant to the ballet, but i can tell you after watching City of Angels all hesitation is gone, and this group leaves you speechless. they are incredibly talented, do amazing things in the community, and are great people. if you have a chance, see their performance, donate, and support them. you will not be disappointed, and our community will only benefit more.
CIty of Angels Ballet is an extraordinary asset for the city of Los Angeles. I have watched the children who have had the opportunity to work with Mario, grow year to year as artists and individuals. Mario Nugara is the genius and sole driving force behind all that City of Angels Ballet does. He deserves help and financial support on par with the world-class experience, marvelous choreography and profound care and love that he brings to the kids he works with. I cannot praise his work and City of Angels Ballet too highly.
My family moved here when my daughter was 11, and I was looking for a place for her to continue dance studies. We found Mario and City of Angels Ballet (CAB). Finding Mario was like something that was too good to be true; however, CAB is true. I cannot say enough about this organization. CAB is a ballet company in Los Angeles that truly reflects the diversity of the city. Every student receives close and individual attention. Every production is tastefully and artistically executed. Mario is tireless in his endeavors to reach out to families, teach, and raise support for this organization. My daughter is grown now and no longer dances with CAB. She has been extremely successful in her academic career, and I attribute much of her success to the discipline she learned as a dancer. She has 2 degrees from prestigious universities, and she is only 25 years old. For one, she is disciplined in managing her time. She has a strong sense of movement and is poised and graceful. Thank you, Mario, for everything you do!
The City of Angels Ballet is an extraordinary non profit. It is so good it could be for profit. Mario Nugara, the director and founder, was a dancer for the Boston Ballet and the Houston Ballet, to name 2. When he was through dancing he wanted to make sure the magic of music was enjoyed by everyone. He started out donating his time in a Salvation Army Community center in Pico Union(Los Angeles). We were involved at that point because he was so good we paid to have our daughter dance with him. His goal is to become the Ballet Company of Los Angeles by bringing up the children from the city. We met the children he taught from a very under served area. They adored him and listened to him and learned not only Ballet but how to listen to music, how to be responsible, how to work hard and always do your best. This must have been 15 years ago and some of those girls are still in touch with Mario. It is not a surprise that they have turned into professionals, as in, Doctors, Lawyers, and Business Leaders. I can't say it is all Mario but I am sure he had a great influence over them. They call him "Mr. Mario" with great respect. He is an amazing man with an amazing gift for relating to children and letting them know, no matter who they are, they can make a difference in the world when they put their minds to it.
City of Angels Ballet’s Mario Nugara teaches lessons far beyond those of technique and physicality; He teaches young dancers discipline, self-confidence, dedication, and the inexpressible feeling of reward that follows seriously hard work. Mario opens children’s eyes, breaks down barriers to self-doubt and helps his dancers recognize that their capabilities are endless. And perhaps most importantly, he provides all young dancers these opportunities regardless of their families’ ability to pay. Mario bestows inspiration and possibility in the eyes of children—the value of which is truly incalculable.
I joined City of Angels ballet as an 11-yr old child and danced seriously with the company right up until I left for college. Now 25, I consider my time at CAB to be one of the most fruitful and inspiring periods of my life, and the cornerstone of my accomplishments.
My son has been dancing with City of Angels Ballet for almost three years. He had previously danced for 7 years at other well-regarded studios where he was lost in the crowd of dancers. At City of Angles he gets personal attention and corrections. During their summer program in 2010 since he was an advanced dancer he was able to assist with the young beginning dancers. He took the task seriously and it gave him more confidence in his abilities and understanding of dance. He has since been accepted into two highly competitive Summer Intensive dance programs in New York. I credit City of Angels Ballet and Mario Nugara with preparing him to excel with his gifts as a dancer.
I am a professional ballet dancer and when coming to work for the first time with Mario Nugara in 2010 for The Nutcracker I was blown away by his professionalism. Mr. Nugara's deep understanding of the physical body and his passion for ballet becomes clear the minute you step inside the studio. Mr. Nugara has a unique way of communing with his artists thereby extracting the very best in each and every single one of his professional dancers and his young students. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with someone so passionate and so knowledgeable about ballet. Mr. Nugara is truly the dancer's advocate and never their adversary. Mr. Nugara's work with underprivileged youth extends far beyond just teaching them dance steps. Young students are given the profound opportunity in a professional setting to enter the world of performing arts where they learn to focus and persevere through discipline and hard work.
My son has been studying with City of Angels Ballet for 6 months. He's happy and so am I; high quality, patient, training, a positive atmosphere and piano accompaniment for all classes! What a gift for these students, their families and our community too!
My experience with City of Angels Ballet has been enriched, challenging,enthusiastic, and fun.Before I start I want to thank to City of Angels Ballet and Mr. Mario the founder, artist director and the talented teacher of City of Angels Ballet. His dedication to the students, his warmth kindness to everyone, his discipline and his motivation to continue is just amazing. I'm a mother that five years ago my eight year old daughter would ask me to dance ballet. When I found out that in her school Normandie Ave. Elementary she had received a letter from City of Angels Ballet about children interesting in dancing classical ballet. Mr. Mario Nugara had told her that she had the feet to dance at the City of Angels Ballet. After dancing five years with The City of Angels Ballet, Rocio my daughter is very grateful of being with Mr. Mario and The City of Angels Ballet.
About 12 years ago I met Mario Nugara, the artistic director of the City of Angels Ballet. He is a man with a mission: to bring classical dance training to qualified children in Los Angeles' inner city neighborhoods. In an era when the arts are rapidly disappearing from the public schools' curriculum, Mario and his colleagues are providing opportunity, discipline, and joy to children who otherwise would have never had the experience of professional dance training. Every child trained by Mario may never grow up to be a member of a professional ballet corps, but all of them will take the lessons learned during this experience to other aspects of their life as they mature into adults and take their place in our society. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
I have worked with the City Of Angels Ballet for many years as a teacher and coach. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this program. The director Mario Nugara is just brilliant. He is a great teacher, coach, and choreographer as well as mentor extraordinaire. Under his leadership the kids excel and thrive. The dancers are a testament that talent, desire and passion exists in all of us, regardless of economic situations. When I work with them I laugh, I cry, I am humbled by their determination, strength and innocence.These kids learn about discipline, and the joy ballet (with all its hard work) can bring. Whether they will go on to be professional dancers or not, hearts and lives are transformed. The City Of Angels Ballet is a true gift. Zippora Karz Former Soloist New York City Ballet Author The Sugarless Plum
We are extremely proud to support the wonderful work that the City of Angels Ballet does. As a very blessed person, it is sometimes difficult to imagine how many can have little or no opportunity to pursue their passion. The City of Angels Ballet gives people in our community an opportunity that they wouldn't otherwise have to pursue their dream to dance! I am inspired to know that a group of passionate professionals dedicate their time and talent to extend their gift to others. Thank you to the City of Angels Ballet for the gifts you share!!
I am an adult student of the City of Angels Ballet and it's director Mario Nugara. I am also a volunteer with the organization. For 20 years this organization has been giving the gift of world-class professional ballet training to under-served youth of Los Angeles. The training offered by director Mario Nugara is unmatched in Southern California. I am honored to be a student of this school and privileged to be a part of this company. Thanks to the training I have received my technique is continuously progressing while my body stays healthy and injury free. In my work as a volunteer and assistant to Mr. Nugara I have been able to watch many young students enter the program and blossom into accomplished dancers. Thank you City of Angels Ballet for the gift you give to the children of Los Angeles.
I have been an active member of the Board of Directors for City of Angels Ballet (CAB) since 2002 and could not be more proud to be part of of this wonderful organization. CAB gives children in some of the most under served parts of L.A. the opportunity to receive the highest quality ballet training available. Through our program, they learn the benefits of discipline, persistence, and hard work. We have been so successful that we now have Ballet Company that rivals any in the state and reflects the diversity of our wonderful city.