Maria Lazar

Ballet Mistress, Youth America Ballet

Maria Lazar founded and directed the Maria Lazar Classical Ballet Academy (MLCBA) in Aliso Viejo. She   received her bachelor's degree and Definitive Teaching Credential after completing 9 years of professional classical and choreography training in the Russian style, Vaganova method of dance at the Romanian State School of Ballet and Choreography in Cluj-Napoca and the Institute of Arts and Cinematography in Bucharest. She joined their faculty and taught in Bucharest for 20 years. As the artistic director of MLCBA and the not for profit ballet company, Orange County Ballet Theatre, a number of national champions began to rise within her school. Soon, MLCBA received national recognition when Miss Lazar was named Outstanding Teacher at YAGP and her dancers received top honors, including Grand Prix Winner.  International recognition followed in 2004 when her student, Jennifer Stahl (now with San Francisco Ballet) became a finalist at the esteemed ballet competition, Prix De Lausanne. Her students have received summer program scholarships from ABT, Kirov, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School and numerous college/university dance programs.

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