FACULTY
MARIA GARCIA
Founder of MG Ballet and Fitness
Maria began her classical dance training at the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza in Monterrey, Mexico, and graduated in 2009 with a degree in Classical Dance from the Fine Arts Institute (INBA). That same year, she launched her professional career with Ballet de Monterrey and was contracted as a corps de ballet member in 2010. After six successful years with Ballet de Monterrey, Maria joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Mexico City in 2015. During her tenure, she performed in prestigious venues such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes and participated in national and international tours.
Maria’s career has been shaped by her work under esteemed directors, including Mario Galizzi, Cuauhtémoc Nájera, Elisa Carrillo, Luis Serrano, and Jorge Amarante. She also had the privilege of training with renowned teachers such as Nellie Happee, Galina Álvarez, Roser Muñoz, Mikhail Kaniskin, Ileana López, Robert Hill, Stanislav Feco, Svetlana Ballester, Christine Ferrando, and Roberto Machado, among others.
Her repertoire includes some of the most iconic productions in classical and contemporary ballet. Highlights include Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet (J. Cranko), Manon (MacMillan), Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, Don Quixote, Western Symphony (Balanchine), Rachmaninov Piano Concerto (Uwe Scholz) Esquina Bajan and Carmina Burana by Nellie Happee. Additionally, Maria participated in prestigious events such as the Encuentro Internacional de Academias para la Enseñanza del Ballet (Havana, Cuba), the Festival Internacional Cervantino (Guanajuato, Mexico), and the Festival Internacional de Ballet (Cali, Colombia).
Beyond her performance career, Maria has continuously sought to expand her expertise. She became a certified Total Barre instructor through Merrithew in 2020 and earned her Progressing Ballet Technique certification in 2023. Most recently, Maria completed her teacher training with Rebel Pilates Collective and is pursuing a comprehensive 600-hour certification in Pilates instruction.
In April 2022, Maria retired as a professional ballet dancer and relocated to McAllen, Texas. Since then, she has taught ballet and Pilates at various studios across Houston and the Rio Grande Valley. Her involvement in artistic projects has also allowed her to explore arts management, complementing her teaching and coaching endeavors.
In June 2024, Maria and her husband co-founded MG Ballet and Fitness, a welcoming space dedicated to sharing the joy of dance and movement. Their mission is to inspire future generations by sharing their extensive knowledge and experience in ballet and fitness. Maria is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals while enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of dance and movement.
LUIS LEDESMA
Co-Founder of MG Ballet and Fitness
Luis Ledesma, a Cuban-born ballet dancer, began his training in 1999 at the Alejo Carpentier School in Havana. He continued his studies at the prestigious National School of Arts (ENA) and graduated in 2007 with degrees in Classical Dance as a Professional Dancer and Teacher. That same year, he joined the esteemed National Ballet of Cuba, widely recognized as one of the world's premier dance companies, under the direction of Alicia Alonso.
In 2010, he arrived in Mexico and joined two of the country's most important companies. He first joined Ballet de Monterrey, where he achieved the rank of soloist and danced under the direction of Luis Serrano and later Jorge Amarante. In 2015, he joined the National Dance Company of Mexico in Mexico City, working with Mario Galizzi, Cuauhtémoc Nájera, and Elisa Carrillo. With both companies, he had the opportunity to perform in national and international tours, including Spain, Colombia, and Canada, among others, including the participation in International festivals such as festival Internacional Cervantino (méxico), Festival Internacional de Ballet (Cali) and at Encuentro Internacional de Academias para la Enseñanza del Ballet en Cuba
Luis excelled in leading and solo roles, including performances such as Romeo (J. Amarante) and Mercutio (Cranko) in Romeo and Juliet, Manon (MacMillan), Por vos muero (Nacho Duato), Diving into the lilacs (Yuri Possokhov), Western Symphony (Balanchine), Zendas and Grapatango (J. Amarante), Carmina Burana (N. Happee), Rachmaninov Piano Concerto (Uwe Scholz) among others. He also showcased his talent in classical ballets like Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Don Quixote, and Sleeping Beauty, to mention some.
Luis had the privilege of working with esteemed mentors and dancers including Alicia Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Ramona de Saa, Adria Velazquez, Carlos Acosta, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Nacho Duato, Roser Muñoz, José Manuel Carreño, Galina Álvarez, and Svetlana Ballester, among others. Their guidance and expertise have contributed to his artistic growth and excellence.
In 2022, Luis retired from dancing at the National Company of Mexico and continues dancing as a guest artist, he also teaches ballet in the Rio Grande Valley inspiring and guiding the next generation of ballet dancers. Currently, he is co-founder of MG ballet and fitness where alongside with his wife are looking to share and invite the community to start or continue their ballet journey in a safe and professional space where the main purpose is to find joy in dance.