French-born Olivier Pardina began his ballet training with master teachers from the Paris Opera Ballet, joining Nice Opera Ballet at age 16 and promoted to Principal Dancer by the end of his first year. Pardina has toured and was an understudy to Rudolph Nureyev, performing around the world with major French ballet companies. Upon retiring from performing, Mr. Pardina was named Artistic Director and Principal Teacher at the Nice Opera Ballet School. He moved to the United States in 1991 and became a faculty member at The HARID Conservatory, also guest teaching at American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Orlando Ballet, The Rock School and at schools in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and European countries. Currently, Mr. Pardina is a principal Instructor for Advanced Levels in the Pre-Professional Division of the Miami City Ballet School.