Teacher

Charles Torres

CHARLES D. TORRES M.A. Charles was born in Mesa, Arizona. He began his ballet training under Judy Churma and Florence Davich. Charles received full scholarships to San Francisco Ballet School, Cleveland Ballet School, Royal Danish Ballet School Workshops, School of American Ballet, Arizona State University, and has earned his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s College. His wide range as a performing artist encompasses the contemporary works of Balanchine and other 20th century choreographers as well as the full-length classics. Charles currently is a guest artist, teacher, and ballet master in demand throughout the country. Since 1998, Charles has been a principal guest artist with several Bay Area companies; Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Diablo Ballet, and with Company C under Charles Anderson. He has danced or created principal roles for Smuin Ballets/S. F. for internationally renowned choreographer and director Michael Smuin. These include “Cyrano”, “Q. a. V.”, “Carmina Burana”, “Starshadows”, “Bouquet Pas de Deux”, “Christmas Ballet” and the memorable “Pierrot” in “Hearts”. In December of 1996 Smuin Ballets/S.F. performed at Carnegie Hall for Ira Gershwin at 100-A Celebration at Carnegie Hall; broadcast on PBS National Television. In addition to his work with Smuin Ballets/S.F. he danced as a principal with Ballet West Arizona, Ballet Austin, The Carlisle Project, Chautauqua Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, and with the Sacramento Ballet (as Principal Dancer and Ballet Master). He also is a frequent guest artist with several companies in the Los Angeles and bay area, including appearing with the San Francisco Opera Ballet as a principal guest artist in Tannhauser and as a member in “Prince Igor" & Ruslan, “ Merry Widow “ (which was filmed for P.B.S. and B.B.C. telecast), and Samson and Delilah. He has danced principal roles in “Rubies”, “Allegro Brillante”, “Donizetti Variations”, “Scotch Symphony”, “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” and the son in “Prodigal Son”. Full length Classics include “Romeo and Juliet”, “Nutcracker”, “Don Quixote,” “Cinderella”, “Coppelia”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Giselle”, “La Fille Mal Gardee” and “Swan Lake”. He has worked with the following esteemed coaches: Malcolm Burn, Andre Prokovsky, Jorge Esquival, Violette Verdy, Henry Berg, John Clifford, Yvonne Mounsey, Stefan Wenta, and Bolshoi legend Mikhail Lavrosky.