Zoica Tovar
Student Division, Trainee Program
Zoica Tovar began her ballet training at Cuban Ballet National School at the age of nine. Upon graduation she was accepted at Ballet Clasico de la Habana under the direction of Laura Alonso.
Ms. Tovar’s talent and dedication allowed her to become principal ballerina shortly thereafter. She received a silver medal in the Alicia Alonso ballet competition in Cuba and also in the Brasilia International ballet competition in Brazil. She has performed many principal roles including Kitri, Odette, Odile, Juliet, Swanilda, and many others from the classical repertoire.
Ms. Tovar danced as a principal dancer in Orlando Ballet from 1998 to 2009 under the direction of Fernando Bujones and Bruce Mark. At Orlando Ballet she had the opportunity to perform works by Balanchine, Twyla, and other famous choreographers. During her time in Orlando, the city gave her The Sun of Florida award for her artistic achievements. In 2009, Ms. Tovar began at BalletMet, where she continued to increase her experience with roles such as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. She also worked with amazing choreographers like James Kudelka, Dwight Rhoden, Edwaard Liang and many others, increasing her contemporary dance experience. She retired in 2013 from BalletMet.
Ms. Tovar has been teaching from 1995. She began her teaching career in Brazil with the Royal Ballet Academy and Palacio de las Artes, the professional company in Belo Horizonte. She also was part of the teaching faculty at Orlando Ballet from 2000 to 2009, where she was in charge of the summer program auditions in the Northeast of USA. She has also trained students for the YAGP competition. In 2012, Ms. Tovar began teaching at North Pointe Dance Academy, where she started a YAGP program. The program had excellent results which included first place in ensemble group for three years in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Her passion and dedication for teach continues until today.