Irma Contreras

Irma Contreras (born 1928) is a former dancer, choreographer, and ballet teacher. She is part of the 1940s generation of Venezuelan dancers. She created and founded the National Ballet of Venezuela with her sister Margot Contreras.[1][2]

Irma Contreras
Born1928 (age 94–95)
Caracas, Venezuela
NationalityVenezuelan
Occupation(s)Dancer, ballet teacher

Career
Programme page 1, from a performance of the Andrés Bello School Dance Corps, June 1946, Caracas, Venezuela
Programme of a function of the National Ballet School, Caracas Municipal Theater, Venezuela, 24 February 1951

Contreras began her ballet studies in Caracas with Argentine teachers Hery and Luz Thomson in an experimental class that opened at the Andrés Bello School around 1945.

In 1948 she entered the National Ballet School, directed by Nena Coronil. Together with Vicente Nebrada, she travelled to Cuba in 1952 and danced in the Alicia Alonso Ballet. Upon her return to Venezuela she entered the newly created Ballet Nena Coronil in 1953. During the Marcos Pérez Jiménez government, Contreras applied for a scholarship to study abroad, to expand her knowledge of ballet; the scholarship was granted and, with Nebreda and Graciela Henríquez, she travelled to Paris. While in France, she danced with the ballet companies of Jean Guelis and Paul Goubert. In 1957 she returned to Venezuela and founded the National Ballet of Venezuela with her sister Margot, the first professional ballet company in the country.

Irma Contreras has been a guest teacher of numerous ballet companies and has taught workshops on the Cecchetti Method.

In 2004 she published the book Danza Clásica, nomenclatura y metodología (English: Classical dance, nomenclature and methodology).[3][4]

Choreographies

Originals
  • Estudio en Do mayor (Bizet)
  • Contrapunto (Bach)
  • Arcanas (Varese)

Based on others
  • Don Quijote (pas de deux)
  • El Corsario (pas de deux)
  • Aguas primaverales
  • Las Sílfides
  • El lago de los cisnes (segundo acto)

Awards
  • 1983: Premio Consejo Nacional de Cultura de Danza Clásica.
  • 2004-2005: Premio Nacional de Danza[5]
  • 2008: Orden Mérito al Trabajo, renglón Danza Clásica[6]

References
  1. Ángel Ricardo Gómez (15 September 2006). "Irma Contreras brilla y baila entre la historia y la leyenda". El Universal. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  2. Carlos Paolillo. "Pasión de maestra". Danzahoy en Español. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  3. Contreras, Irma (2004). Danza Clásica - Nomenclatura y Metodología. Caracas: Irma Contreras. ISBN 978-980-12-1050-4.
  4. "Breves Espectáculos. Irma Contreras bautiza su obra". El Universal. 12 March 2005. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  5. "Conac anunció ganadores de Premios Nacionales de Cultura". Globovisión. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  6. "Reconocen a cultores de Danza". Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Cultura. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2009.

Bibliography
  • PAOLILLO, Carlos. Una aventura, un hito. Ballet Nacional de Venezuela 1957–1980. Editado por Asociación Civil Publicaciones La Danza. Producción e impresión: Ediplus producción, C.A. Caracas, 2004. ISBN 980-6795-00-8
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