Adrian Ciobanu was born in Cluj, Romania, where he graduated with honors from the Liceul de Choregrafie, Octavian Stroia, under the direction of his father, Florin Ciobanu. He performed with the Romanian Opera Ballet for one year then moved to the Hungarian Opera Ballet for five years, where he achieved the rank of principal dancer. He toured throughout Europe including France, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. 

In 1996, Mr. Ciobanu became a member of the Sarasota Ballet, dancing major principal roles as well as creating many roles. His repertoire includes major classical and contemporary ballets by such choreographers as Robert North, Alberto Alonso, Katherine Posen, Steven Mills, Todd Allen, and Ament Istvan. Beginning in 2002, he taught and coached for Sarasota Ballet School, Dance the Next Generation, and local and regional schools throughout Florida. In 2003, Mr. Ciobanu was promoted to Principal of Academy, Sarasota Ballet, where the number of students doubled and the budget increased significantly under his direction. He staged full-length productions for the Academy, including  Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, La Boutique Fantasque, and Paquita. In 2008, Mr. Ciobanu was promoted to Ballet Master of Sarasota Ballet and worked extensively with the Academy. He worked with such stagers and choreographers as Hans Van Manen, Monica Parker, Alexander Grant, Dominic Walsh, Sandra Jennings, Joyceanne Sidimus, Julian Moss, Andre Prokovsky, Gilles Maidon, Jackie Hollander, Donald Mahler, and Margaret Barbieri. 

Mr. Ciobanu has been the Co-Director of Uptown Dance Centre and Uptown Dance Company for the past thirteen years.

MAURICIO Cañete - Marketing Director & Ballet Master

Mauricio Cañete is a native of Santiago, Chile where he began his dance training. In 1995 he was invited to join Houston Ballet by Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, and in 2000 he was promoted to soloist. In 2003 Mr. Cañete joins Ballet Florida by Artistic Director Marie Hale and in 2012 he danced with Ballet Eloelle by artistic director Victor Trevino.

After Dancing for Houston Ballet, Ballet Florida and Ballet Eloelle Mr. Cañete received notable acclaim from the international press when he performed in Chile, England, Russia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Austria, Germany, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Japan.

Ben Stevenson, Fernando Bujones, Paul Taylor, Lila York, David Parsons, Christopher Bruce,Trey McIntyre, Dominic Walsh, Manuel Castro, Maria Eliana Azocar, Marie Hale, Paula Abdul among many others have been a great experience for Mr. Cañete to work with.

Mauricio’s title roles include Peter Pan, The Pied Piper, The Jester in Cinderella, Renfield in Dracula, The Slave in Le Corsaire, The Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker Prince, Puck in Midsummer Night Dream, Ugly Stepsister in Cinderella, Romeo and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Ptolemy in Cleopatra, The Bugle Boy in Company B and The Prince in Swan Lake. He has also been featured in Five Poems, Four Last Songs, Smile with My Heart, Bakers Dozen, Ghost Dances, Sergeants Early’s Dream and Second Before The Ground.

From 2014 to 2016 Mr. Cañete worked with So Danca USA as the director of Social Media and Photoshoot Ads campaign.

From 2014 to 2016 Mr. Cañete created the Florida Youth Dance Gala, an annual performance to help the new generation of dancers to have the opportunity to perform in a professional environment.

Mr. Cañete’s Highlights
Danced at the Bolshoi Theater Moscow Russia
Danced with Fernando Bujones Miami Florida
Danced at the Kennedy Center Washington DC
Danced at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre London England Danced with Paula Abdul at the Universal Studios Singapore Danced at Sabados Gigantes Univision Miami Florida Danced at AGT- Americas Got Talent Los Angeles CA

In 2017 Mr. Cañete retired after dancing for 28 years. Mr.Cañete is very excited to be back in Houston working with UPTOWN DANCE CENTRE & UPTOWN DANCE COMPANY.