On Thursday October 2, 2014 Conchita Espinosa Conservatory of the Arts (CEC) will host A Tribute to Martha Mahr. Martha Mahr was an integral part of the Miami dance community. Her influence touched countless dancers’ and teachers’ lives, not only by allowing and guiding them to develop a passion and love for ballet, but more importantly by instilling in them dignity, integrity, and discipline. Her list of students is long. In her 60 year-long career Martha Mahr was a principal ballerina, ballet mistress, and instructor for prestigious companies such as the Cuban National Ballet of Alicia Alonso. In the United States she began teaching at Conchita Espinosa Conservatory, before moving on to found the Martha Mahr School of Ballet and become a founding co-director of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet (formerly known as The Miami Ballet). Ms. Mahr’s guidance and masterful teaching was frequently sought by already established professional dancers such as Margot Fonteyn, Cynthia Gregory, and Natalia Makarova. She taught Fernando Bujones, Victoria Leigh, Mark Goldweber, and many others who went on to join major ballet companies. Lourdes Lopez, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, former Executive Director of the George Balanchine Foundation, and current Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, is a living example of her legacy.
Martha and Conchita were good friends for many years. Martha taught ballet at Conchita Espinosa Academy and Conservatory both in Cuba and in Miami. In fact, when Conchita reopened the school in Miami in the early 1960’s, she brought Ms. Mahr from Argentina to teach at the Conservatory.
Many of the ballet teachers Conchita Espinosa Conservatory has seen throughout the years have been students of Ms. Mahr, including the current head of the pre-professional ballet department and the CEC Youth Ballet Company, Ms. Patricia Strauss. For this and many reasons, CEC is proud to officially name their newest dance studio the Martha Mahr Studio, in her memory.
At A Tribute to Martha Mahr the CEC will unveil the studio with her name, followed by a short, heartfelt performance. Conchita Espinosa Conservatory of the Arts would like to call all former students of Ms. Mahr and members of the dance community to join us in celebrating her life and legacy and keeping her memory alive through our young dancers.
For more information about the Conservatory or the event, please contact Elisabela Alvarez-Valls at evalls@conchitaespinosa.com.
