– A student from the Municipal School of Classical Ballet excelled at the American Academy of Ballet’s Summer School of Excellence.
Legna Guadalupe Ibarra Cabrera, a student at the Classical Ballet School of the Municipal Center for the Arts (CMA), experienced a challenging yet unforgettable summer. Thanks to her talent, dedication, and discipline, the young dancer brought honor to Mazatlán by winning the gold medal at the American Academy of Ballet’s Summer School of Excellence, held in New York City.
From July 19 to August 1, the promising young classical dancer participated in this prestigious international program, where she lived, trained, and competed with more than 30 dancers from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, the United States, China, and South Korea.
The Road to the Big Apple
Legna’s journey began in March of this year when she applied online to audition. Her first in-person audition was in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City, where her technique impressed the evaluators, securing her place in the intensive course in the United States.
Taking on this goal presented a significant personal challenge: traveling alone for the first time and being separated for two weeks from her most important support system, her family.
“I was more nervous than excited, but once I was there, I enjoyed every class and tried to do my best. It was worth it. I went with the goal of learning much more, meeting teachers from different parts of the world, and getting to know new people. This experience made me more disciplined and responsible; those were my expectations, and I met them,” Legna said.
During her stay, the dancer participated in classes taught by internationally renowned teachers such as Carla Peniche (Mexico), Camille Perrier (France), Julian Brandon, and Kevin Durr, the latter a director affiliated with the Royal Ballet. In these sessions, she reinforced techniques in disciplines such as classical ballet, contemporary dance, musical theater, pointe work, and Spanish dance.
Triumph in Manhattan
At the pinnacle of her performance in the iconic Manhattan venue, Legna executed a variation from the Sleeping Beauty repertoire. Her outstanding interpretation earned her the unanimous acclaim of the jury, and she received the gold medal, diplomas of excellence, and a scholarship to return to the same institution for further training in 2027.
Educational and Family Pride
For Ana Paola Villegas Loaiza, coordinator of the CMA Classical Ballet School, this triumph fills the institution with pride, as it reflects the quality of the training provided in its classrooms.
“Personally, this motivates us to continue working as a faculty to provide all students with a high-quality academic experience that allows them to fully develop in these kinds of opportunities, as well as in other programs, schools, and international settings,” the teacher exclaimed.
For her part, Guadalupe Cabrera, Legna’s mother, affirmed that this achievement is not a matter of chance, but rather the reflection of years of continuous effort:
“I knew it was a key opportunity for her, that she was going to grow. When I saw her dance in the presentation, I was filled with pride because I saw the talent of so many young people, and then I saw her stand out with her variation and win. I realized that all the years she has spent at the CMA have paid off; there she demonstrated everything her teachers have taught her,” the proud mother stated.
Goals on the Horizon
Back in Mazatlán, Legna already has her next goals clearly defined: to advance within the Mazatlán Dance Center (CMA) by maintaining maximum intensity in her training and continuing to take advantage of every training course available to her.
In the long term, the young dancer aspires to become a professional, join the Mazatlán Ballet Company, and eventually, become part of the world’s leading dance companies to showcase her talent on the world’s most prestigious stages.
