Carlos Agudelo
Carlos Agudelo
Artistic Director
CARLOS AGUDELO is a native of Colombia, South America. Carlos began his training with the Atlantic Foundation for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL, under the direction of Ruth Petrinovic. He received a scholarship to study at the Harkness Ballet School in New York City with David Howard. He danced with the Israel Classic Ballet in Tel Aviv, Israel, and with the International Ballet de Caracas under the direction of former Harkness Ballet dancer, Vicente Nebrada. With Ballet de Caracas, Mr. Agudelo toured all over the world including a season at City Center in New York. He performed in works by John Butler, Margo Sappington, Vicente Nebrada, George Balanchine, and Alvin Ailey, who coached him in Mr. Ailey's ballet, The River. He also danced with Ballet Hispanico of New York under the direction of Tina Ramirez, in works by Tally Beatty, Jeoffrey Holder, Lynn Taylor Corbett, and many other innovative choreographers.
Mr. Agudelo has been Ballet Spartanburg's Artistic Director since 1991. His choreography includes: The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Peter and the Wolf, Fairy Tales (The Magic Pearl), Altered States, Carmina Burana, The Hobbit, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, Carnival of the Animals, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Great Gatsby, and The Wizard of Oz. Carlos has also choreographed for The Spartanburg Little Theater’s productions of Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, as well as, a co-production of West Side Story with Ballet Spartanburg. Under his direction, Ballet Spartanburg has performed at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, the Koger Center in Columbia and the Peace Center in Greenville. Also under his direction, Ballet Spartanburg has performed his choreography in operas for the Converse College Petrie School of Music, including: Oh Susannah, La Traviata, Carmen, and Hansel and Gretel.
In addition to directing and choreographing, Mr. Agudelo is a certified Dance for Parkinson instructor licensed through the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group. Carlos has been teaching Dance for Parkinson at Ballet Spartanburg since 2006.
In 2023, Carlos was awarded the prestigious South Carolina Governor's Awards for the Arts for Outstanding Individual Artist.
Carlos Agudelo, 2023 SC Governor's Award for an Individual
Ballet Spartanburg's Artistic Director, Carlos Agudelo, was awarded the South Carolina Governor's Award from the South Carolina Arts Commission on May 23, 2023, at the Chapman Cultural Center. The award was presented by Mr. David Platt, Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission. "We recognize the unparalleled energy, enthusiasm, devotion and love for dance that Carlos has gifted to our community out of his passion for all to experience the arts for the past 32 years. We are overjoyed that Carlos has been recognized by the South Carolina Arts Commission, " Teresa S. Berline, Executive Director. "The South Carolina Arts Commission is an extraordinary organization in our state which promotes and advocates opportunities in the arts which values equality, access, diversity and inclusion. Ballet Spartanburg is honored by the support of the South Carolina Arts Commission and the recognition of Carlos Agudelo."