Faculty Spotlight: Who is Ms. Ines?

You might recognize this month’s featured BBT faculty member from her social media debut during the start of the COVID epidemic. When BBT’s studios were forced to close, Ms. Ines Lopez took to Instagram Live with her daughter to ensure she could continue to connect with her students, keeping them on their feet and moving, even if remotely! Students who’ve had Ms. Ines know her eagerness to connect and nurture is emblematic of her philosophy as a dance instructor, but how much do you know about Ms. Ines herself?

Born in Argentina, Ms. Ines began her ballet education and training under her mentor, renowned ballet mistress Cristina Sanchez. Her formative years under her wing were carried out in her hometown of Carlos Paz, Cordoba. With her guidance, Ms. Ines was awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in several regional and international dance competitions and began her teaching career at 17. Seeking new opportunities abroad, she left Argentina in 2000 and relocated to Boca Raton, Florida. She quickly found a place to continue training and performing at Boca Ballet Theatre, sharing the stage with many ballet stars in productions of The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Flower Festival at Genzano. In 2003, she became an instructor for BBT, taking on most of the Children’s Division classes, becoming the anchor of that program. She is passionate about inspiring the youngest dancers at BBT to love the art and discipline of ballet through movement and music.

A testament to her costume design and seamstress skills, Ms. Ines has also been the Wardrobe Mistress for BBT and the Harid Conservatory for 15 years, displaying her creations on our local stages. “Being a dancer myself, I have an advantage as a seamstress,” Ms. Ines says, “knowing how important comfort and functionality are for the dancer while also achieving the aesthetic desired by the director.”

When asked what makes teaching at BBT so rewarding, Ms. Ines said, “My absolute favorite part of teaching for so long at BBT is watching my pink nuggets grow from a struggling 1st position at 3 years old to dancing lead roles as teens and even assisting in my classes. It’s a privilege to watch them grow as people and as dancers.” There is no doubt that Ms. Ines is one of the many talented faculty members at BBT who are shaping our young dancers into the stars of tomorrow!