About
PRINCIPAL DANCER
A native of France, Olivier Pardina began his ballet instruction with his father, Tony Pardina, before continuing his training with the master teachers of the Paris Opera Ballet.
At age 16, he was appointed to Principal Dancer with the Nice Opera House and was invited to Japan to perform the role of Albrecht in the ballet Giselle.
He was the Grand Prix winner of a national ballet competition broadcasted live on French TV and was offered a contract by celebrated choreographer, Maurice Bejart.
Olivier Pardina was a resident Principal Dancer for several major French ballet companies:
- Opera de Nice
- Grand Theatre de Bordeaux
- Theatre du Capitole de Toulouse
- Ballet Theatre Francais de Nancy
During his professional career, he has toured extensively around the world to dance the male leading role of the Grand Ballets of the Repertory, as well as contemporary pieces, and world premiere creations.
He has performed in prestigious theaters and opera houses:
- Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London
- Teatro Alla Scala in Milan
- Teatro la Fenice in Venice
- Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Olivier Pardina was chosen by Rudolf Noureev to replace him in the role of Petrushka during an homage to Diaghilev at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.
He was coached by Yvette Chauvire, Prima Ballerina Assoluta, for the role of Albrecht in Giselle at the Paris Opera House.
He was selected by renowned choreographers Moses Pendleton to perform the leading role in his world premier creation of Pulcinella, by Brigit Culberg for the leading role of Jean in the ballet Miss Julie and by Serge Lifar for the leading role in Suite en Blanc.
He has partnered with celebrated ballerinas, to name a few:
- Noella Pontois (Principal, Paris Opera Ballet) in Giselle
- Elizabeth Patel (Principal, Paris Opera Ballet) in Coppelia
- Gabriella Tessitore (Principal, Opera di Roma) in Romeo and Juliet
- Yannick Stephant (Soloist, Paris Opera Ballet) in the world premier of Le Prince des Poetes
- Francesca Zumbo (Soloist, Paris Opera Ballet) in the Red Death
- Jennifer Goube (Soloist, Paris Opera Ballet) in Giselle
He has performed in many galas along Vladimir Vassiliev (Principal, Bolshoi Ballet), Ekaterina Maxima (Principal, Bolshoi Ballet Principal), Patrick Dupond (Principal, Paris Opera Ballet), Lazaro Carreno (Principal, Ballet National de Cuba) and Loipa Araujo (Principal, Ballet National de Cuba)
MASTER TEACHER
Upon retiring from the stage, Olivier Pardina was named Artistic Director and Principal Teacher of the Nice Opera Ballet school (France).
He moved to the United States to join the Harid Conservatory as a faculty member.
In 2013, he was appointed as Principal Teacher for the Advanced Levels of the Pre-Professional Division of the Miami City Ballet School.
His students have won major prizes and scholarships at national and international dance competitions and many have become accomplished dancers with renowned ballet companies in the United States and abroad. To name a few:
- Marcelo Gomes (Principal, American Ballet Theater)
- Lynn Tally (Principal, Boston Ballet)
- Sara Webb (Principal, Houston Ballet)
- Connor Walsh (Principal, Houston Ballet)
- Kathleen Breen Combes (Principal, Boston Ballet)
- Bo Busby (Soloist, Boston Ballet)
- Cavan Conely (Soloist, San Francisco Ballet)
- Ashley Laracey (Soloist, New York City Ballet)
- Jim Sofranco (Soloist, San Francisco Ballet)
- David Rodriguez Munoz (Hamburg Ballett, Germany)
TEACHER AND COACH ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1996: Prix de Lausanne (Switzerland)
Hope Prize (Marcelo Gomes, Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater)
- 1997: Prix de Lausanne (Switzerland)
Professional Prize (Lyn Tally, Soloist with Boston Ballet)
- 2000: Youth America Grand Prix (New York City Finals)
Grand Prix (Layla Fayyaz)
Best Classical Male Dancer (Bo Busby)
- 2001: Youth America Grand Prix (New York City Finals)
Grand Prix (Bo Busby)
- 2001: Youth America Grand Prix (Florida Semi-Finals)
Best Pas-de-Deux Award (Ashley Laracey and Bo Busby)
- 2001: Youth America Grand Prix (Florida Semi-Finals) Outstanding Teacher Award
- 2004: National Foundation of Advancement in the Arts
Recipient of Teaching Award
- 2005: Youth America Grand Prix
Recipient of the Teaching Award of Excellence
- Honorary recipient of the teaching degree awarded by the French government.
- Awarded with the Medal of the city of Nice (France)
- Invited by Rosella Hightower (Ecole Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower) to be part of the school level evaluation for the official recognition of the "Conservatoires Nationaux Superieurs de Musique et Danse" (Paris Conservatory) who operates under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.
Since 2017, Mr. Pardina has been working exclusively as a guest teacher and coach and he is not affiliated with any school. He travels extensively throughout the United States and South America.
Mr. Pardina has been invited as guest teacher by the American Ballet Theatre, the Teatro Municipal de Rio de Janeiro and the Cordoba Ballet company (Argentina) to teach the dancers of the ballet company and the school. He has taught at the San Francisco Ballet School, the Charlotte Ballet Academy, the Rock School, the Ecole Superieure de Ballet du Quebec (Canada) and the Orlando Ballet School to name a few.
He has also served regularly as a jury member and master guest teacher with the Youth America Grand Prix and as adjudicator for the Universal Ballet Competition, the Regional Dance America (RDA) National Festival and the California Dance Classic Competition.
EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY
His teaching emphasizes quality, precision and artistry.
Artistic development is an essential element of his pedagogy.
"Foundations and basics are crucial to the proper technique of any aspiring professional dancer"
Olivier Pardina
A product of the French schooling, Mr. Pardina has also trained with Russian and Cuban teachers and ballet masters. He strongly believes that all the major schoolings are complimentary.
« A good ballet teacher has extensive knowledge and most importantly has the ability to pass it on with passion and the talent to inspire »
Olivier Pardina
Classes offered:
- Master Classes
- Technique, Mens, Pointe and Partnering Classes
- Private Classes
- Coaching for competitions
Services available:
- Audtions and Recruitment
- Educational guidance
- Seminars
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Olivier Pardina will be guest teaching at the following schools for their summer intensive programs:
2023 Summer Intensives
International Ballet Academy (Cary, NC)
- June 12th-16th
The Dancer Project Conservatory (Nashville, TN)
- June 19th-21st
Charlotte Ballet Academy (Charlotte, NC)
- June 26th-July 1st
International Ballet School (Denver, CO)
- July 3rd-14th
Dallas Ballet Center (Dallas, TX)
- July 17th-21st
St. Lucie Ballet (Port St. Lucie, FL)
- July 24th-26th
Paris Ballet (Jupiter, FL)
- July 31st-August 4th
Dallas Ballet Center (Dallas, TX)
- August 21st-26th
2023 SCHEDULE
Paris Ballet (Jupiter, FL)
- Morning Conservatory Program on Mondays
Dallas Ballet Center (Dallas, TX)
- January 11th-21st
- October 25th-November 04th
St. Lucie Ballet (Port St. Lucie, FL)
- Janvier 06th
- February 10th
- March 10th
- April 14th
- May 05th
California Dance Classic Competition (San Diego, CA)
- March 02nd-05th
Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA)
- March 06th-08th