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Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Spotlight on Dancer Miguel Angel Montoya

It's National Hispanic Heritage Month, a four-week period observed in the U.S. each year from September 15 to October 15. It is a time for us to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Each week, Atlanta Ballet will introduce you to one of its many talented Company artists proud of their Hispanic heritage. We are starting the month out with a spotlight on Miguel Angel Montoya from Cali, Colombia who is embarking on his second season as an Atlanta Ballet Company dancer!

Miguel was born in Cali, Colombia, where he began his training at the Instituto Colombiano de Ballet, Incoballet. In 2008, Miguel relocated to Philadelphia to attend the Rock School. In 2010, Miguel competed in the IBC Jackson International Ballet Competition, progressed to the second round semifinal and made it to the Youth American Grand Prix New York finals. Before joining Atlanta Ballet, Miguel danced with Incolballet Company under the direction of Gloria Castro de Martinez, appearing as the Slave in Le Corsaire and Basilio in Don Quixote. Miguel worked with Twyla Tharp and originated roles in The Princess and the Goblin. Miguel also danced in Juel Lane’s Moments of Dis, Helen Pickett’s Prayer of Touch, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, Gina Patterson’s I AM, Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, and Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush.

You probably recognize him from this summer's Wabi Sabi performances in which he originated roles in the world premieres of John Heginbotham's Angels' Share and Ivan Pulinkala's RINPOCHE: Celebrating Matt Howard. For the 2013-14 Season, you saw him perform as the Nephew, the male Meissen Doll, and a Rose Escort in Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker; an acolytes in Roméo et Juliette; a featured dancer in Seven Sonatas and Secus during the Modern Choreographic Voices program; Ghost Hamlet II in Hamlet; and a member of the Dream/Subconscious in THREE during the MAYhem program.

See him perform with Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi on Thursday, September 18 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Clik here for details!

Miguel Angel Montoya in Alexei Ratmansky's Seven Sonatas.

Photos by Charlie McCullers.