Gonzalo Garcia

Gonzalo Garcia is a celebrated international artist, mentor, and arts leader whose 25-year career spans two of the most prestigious ballet companies in the United States: San Francisco Ballet and New York City Ballet. He brings to Miami City Ballet a global perspective, deep artistic integrity, and a vibrant vision that balances classical tradition with creative expansion. 

Born in Zaragoza, Spain, Garcia began his ballet training at the age of eight under the legendary teacher María de Ávila. At 15, he became the youngest-ever gold medalist at the Prix de Lausanne, which launched his path to San Francisco Ballet, where he rose to principal dancer in 2002. During his decade with the company, he became known for his dramatic depth and technical command, leading acclaimed productions of Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker, while also originating roles in works by Helgi Tomasson, Mark Morris, and Lar Lubovitch. 

In 2007, Garcia joined New York City Ballet as a principal dancer—one of the few artists in the company’s history to be hired externally at that rank. Over his 15 years with NYCB, he became one of the company’s most compelling artists, renowned for his interpretations of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins masterworks including Apollo, Dances at a Gathering, The Four Temperaments, and Prodigal Son. He also originated roles in numerous contemporary ballets by Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon, and was notably coached by Mikhail Baryshnikov for Robbins’ Opus 19/The Dreamer. 

Garcia’s relationship to the Balanchine legacy is deep and enduring—not only as a dancer shaped by Balanchine’s vocabulary, but as a current stager and interpreter of his works. After retiring from performance in 2022, he was appointed Repertory Director at NYCB, where he coached leading dancers in ballets including Jewels, Symphony in C, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Swan Lake (Balanchine). As faculty at the School of American Ballet—the institution Balanchine himself founded—Garcia was entrusted with mentoring the next generation in the very technical style Miami City Ballet continues to uphold. 

He has also appeared as a guest artist and teacher across the globe, with engagements at Paris Opera Ballet, Mariinsky Theatre, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Juilliard, ABT’s JKO School, and more. Fluent in Spanish and English, he has led bilingual outreach initiatives and collaborated with development and marketing teams to connect ballet to broader audiences. His creative work beyond the stage includes directing and consulting for campaigns with Apple, Tiffany & Co., and The New York Times. His honors include the Princess Grace Award, Isadora Duncan Award, and a nomination for the Benois de la Danse. 

Garcia steps into this role with unmatched experience, generous leadership, and a visionary commitment to both preserving Miami City Ballet’s storied heritage and forging bold, new paths. His arrival signals a thrilling new chapter for the company—one that honors tradition while actively reshaping the future of ballet in Miami and beyond.