Maria Barrios was born in Caracas, Venezuela to a family of artists. Starting at a very early age, M. Barrios has developed simultaneous international careers as a classical and contemporary dancer, choreographer, and master teacher, and has acquired substantial experience as a ballet mistress, and assistant to renowned choreographers. Ms. Barrios was for 17 years, Artistic Director of the Caracas Contemporary Ballet. Since 2011, Ms. Barrios has lived in Israel. A graduate of Juilliard School, New York, Miss Barrios has been a soloist and principal dancer in several companies such as the National Ballet of Canada, Ballets of Luzern and Bern, Zurich, Switzerland, Arena of Verona and Venice Ballet, Italy, Caracas Contemporary Ballet, among others. For these companies and others, Maria Barrios has created many choreographic works, performed to critical acclaim around the world. Most recently her works were performed in Munich, New York, and China. Ms. Barrios has danced with many international ballet stars such as Rudolf Nureyev and she has been a Guest Artist with companies and International Ballet Galas ( USA, Canada, Italy, Brazil, Paraguay, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, and more ). Maria has worked with renowned choreographers such as José Limon, John Butler, Antony Tudor, Alvin Ailey, Jiri Kylian, Nils Christe, John Neumeyer, G. Carbone ... among many others.
Ms. Barrios has been the recipient of several international prizes: National Dance Award of Venezuela, Best Choreographer, Venezuela, 1st prize at La Scéne francaise, Paris, Köln International Festival, Germany, 1st prize at International competition Nyon, Switzerland, Unesco Prize for Best Educational program, among others. Maria has been a teacher and ballet master all along in her dancing career. As a guest master teacher, Ms. Barrios has taught several companies in countries around the world ( Sao Paulo Dance Co., Georgia Ballet, Joinville Festival ( Brazil), H. Jurriens Found. (Amsterdam), Peridance (New York), Liaoning and Chongqing Ballet Cos. ( China), among others. Maria has been invited as a judge to many international events and competitions. In Israel, Maria taught extensively at Thelma Yalin High School of Performing Arts, at the Israel Ballet School, and many other different schools and companies. Since 2017 she has directed and prepares professional dancers at her Pre Professional Program in Tel Aviv.