Building IABT

Building a ballet company from the ground up is not an easy path.

IABT is young, independent and project-based, and I am deeply aware of the realities of the professional ballet world. It is an extraordinarily competitive environment, where talent and hard work do not always speak for themselves, and where established networks, institutional relationships and access to major theatres can make a significant difference.

I know that established companies can offer dancers far more resources, stability and opportunities than we can at this stage, and I am not trying to pretend otherwise.

But I also believe there is a place for what I am trying to create. There are many highly skilled and committed dancers who, for one reason or another, may not fit the requirements or circumstances of a large established company, yet still have so much to offer.

I do not expect everyone to like my way of dancing, choreographing or directing, nor do I expect everyone to agree with my artistic choices. That is part of being an artist, and I am comfortable with that.

What I do know is how much I put into IABT. Every opportunity, every production and every small step forward has been built through persistence, sacrifice, long hours and an extraordinary amount of personal effort. I may not have the resources or the connections of a major ballet institution, but I have the determination to keep building.

And every achievement along the way matters to me, because I know exactly how much work has gone into making it happen.

A bit about me

Born in Italy, Mariangela trained in Naples under former étoiles of the S. Carlo Theatre, building a rigorous and refined foundation in classical ballet (Vaganova). Alongside her dance training, she completed higher education, later choosing to fully return to ballet.

She has performed soloist and principal roles across Europe, including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake with the Russian National Ballet, as well as in contemporary works, demonstrating both versatility and expressive artistry.

Now based in Melbourne, Mariangela continues to perform professionally across Australia while nurturing the next generation of dancers as an active educator. A certified graduate of all levels of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Training Seminars, she brings advanced mastery of the Vaganova method, recognized for her musicality, precision, and exceptional attention to artistic detail. Through IABT, she mentors emerging talent, offering young dancers the rare opportunity to train and perform alongside professional artists in a collaborative and inspiring environment.

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