TICKETS: 813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG 51
Choreographers Initiative. Neal is a guest
instructor for numerous international dance
companies and schools, including Boston
Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet,
Paci c Northwest Ballet and the School of
American Ballet. From 2010-2013, Neal
directed developmental efforts, fundraising
of major gifts, Board Trustee recruitment
and special events in Palm Beach County
on behalf of Miami City Ballet. Neal began
his dance training at age 11 at the School of
Richmond Ballet, where he was recognized
by Edward Villella and offered a summer
scholarship to the School of American
Ballet, the of cial school of New York City
Ballet. In 1985, Neal won a silver medal in
the International Prix de Lausanne ballet
competition. Neal graduated magna cum
laude from St. Paul’s School in 1986 and
was named a Presidential Scholar of the
Arts by Young Arts, and as part of that
honor he performed at the Kennedy Center.
In addition to his training in New York
and Richmond, Neal studied at the Royal
Danish Ballet School in Copenhagen,
Denmark. Neal joined New York City
Ballet’s corps de ballet in 1987. In 1991,
he was promoted to soloist, and to principal
dancer during the 1992-1993 season. Neal
performed with New York City Ballet at
Lincoln Center, at their summer venue at
the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and
on tour in Athens, Melbourne, Copenhagen,
London, Paris and Tokyo. He was honored
to have been an invited guest performer
with the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg,
Russia, at the Famed Mariinsky Theater, as
well as with the Paris Opera Ballet.
PATRICIA DELGADO
(Sugar Plum Fairy,
Imperial Cast) Born and
raised in Miami, Fla.,
Delgado began her dance
training at the age of ve
with Cuban teachers, Liana
Navarro, Vivian Tobio and Maria Victoria
Gutierrez. When she was 12 years old,
Patricia had her rst exposure to Company
life when she was accepted to study at
the Miami City Ballet School, a program
which had just opened its doors with the
intention of becoming a feeder school for
the Company. While Patricia worked and
trained in Miami during the year, she spent
her summers in New York City, at both the
School of American Ballet and American
Ballet Theatre. Delgado was named a
Princess Grace Nominee in 2000, the same
year that MCB Artistic Director Edward
Villella invited her to join the Company as an
apprentice. She was promoted to principal
in 2007.Patricia’s career and performances
have been well documented in international
newspapers, print magazines and on many
online forums.
GONZALO GARCIA
(Cavalier, Imperial Cast)
is a principal dancer with
New York City Ballet.
Born in Zaragoza, Spain,
Mr. Garcia began studying
ballet at the age of eight at
Maria Avila’s school. In 1995, he attended
the summer session at San Francisco Ballet
School. Following this session, Mr. Garcia
participated in the Prix de Lausanne,
becoming the youngest dancer to receive a
gold medal. He then returned to the School
to resume his studies and was selected by
Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director of San
Francisco Ballet, to perform in a world
premiere ballet created especially for the
1996 Spring Student Showcase. Mr. Garcia
joined San Francisco Ballet as a member
of the corps de ballet in March 1998. In
2000, he was promoted to soloist, and in
2002 to principal dancer. Mr. Garcia was
invited to perform Balanchine’s Ballo della
Regina with New York City Ballet as part
of the Company’s Balanchine Centennial
Celebration in 2004. Mr. Garcia joined
New York City Ballet in October of 2007 as
a principal dancer.
SARA MEARNS (Sugar
Plum Fairy, Czarist,
Fabergé, Mariinsky Casts)
was born in Columbia,
South Carolina, and began
her dance training at the age
of three with Ann Brodie at
the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance, also in
Columbia. At the age of 13, Mearns trained
with Patricia McBride at Dance Place, the