* * * ARTISTIC DIRECTOR * * *
Sandra Castro-Mühlbauer is the artistic director of the Mont Royal Ballet Academy. She isan internationally renowned guest artist, choreographer, and ballet teacher.
Sandra received her ballet training in the Vaganova style at the Conservatory in Vienna, under the guidance of international ballet star Karl Musil and Prima Ballerina Evelyn Teri. Graduating with exceptional distinction, she has achieved remarkable success throughout her career. Sandra has won numerous prizes at prestigious international ballet competitions, including the Nureyev Competition, the Serge Lifar Competition, ÖTR Contest, and Fouette Artek. At the age of 15 she was also a finalist at the renowned Prix de Lausanne, where she received a soloist contract offer from the Ballets de Monte Carlo. However, Sandra chose to accept a corps de ballet contract with the Vienna State Opera Ballet to remain close to her family and her beloved ballet teacher, Evelyn.
Throughout her career, Sandra has collaborated with esteemed artists and choreographers such as Edouard Lock, Vladimir Malakhov, Patricia Neary, Diana Vishneva, Rafael Avnikjan, Renato Zanella, and Jan Durovcik. She has performed for renowned companies like Lalala Human Steps, the Slovak National Theatre, and the world-famous Lido. Sandra’s favorite roles include Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Gamzatti in La Bayadère, Myrta in Giselle, and Aegina in Spartacus.
In 2017, Sandra and her husband opened the Mont Royal Ballet Academy in Montreal. Since then, she has been traveling internationally as a guest teacher and adjudicator at ballet competitions. Sandra is also the founder and director of Elegance, the 1st International Online Ballet & Contemporary Dance Competition. Her passion and dedication continue to shape the future of ballet and contemporary dance.