Mission
The Lighthouse Ballet Academy was established in September 2010 by master teacher Luis Mestas. We specialize in Russian classical ballet technique and offer an ideal combination of youth and experience, helping each student develop according to his or her unique interests and abilities.
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Founder & Artistic Director
The Lighthouse Ballet Academy was founded by Mr. Luis Mestas in 2010 and is located in Hoquiam, Washington in Grays Harbor County. Mr. Mestas began his ballet training at Ballet Guadalajara, Mexico and continued his studies at the Tallinn Ballet Academy in Estonia. After moving to Los Angeles, Mr. Mestas was chosen to dance the Gran Pas de Deux of the Graduation Ball for Tatiana Riabouchinska, which was choreographed by her husband, David Lichine.
A classically trained dancer, Mr. Mestas has danced many leading roles with several international dance companies including the Asian American Ballet Company under Maestro Stephan Mucsi of the Budapest Aivairs Leimanis at the National Opera in Riga, Lativia, and under Maestro Victor Korolkov in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mr. Mestas holds a Master's Degree in Leadership and School Administration and has served as the Director of Performing Arts for the Los Angeles Public School District. He is the Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Academy and teaches in the Grays Harbor public schools. |
Meet Mr. Mestas
Artistic Experience
Luis Mestas studied dance and choreography under Alexander Zybin at the Ballet Guadaljara, Mexico, at the Tallinn Ballet Academy in Estonia, under Maestro Aivars Leimanis at the National Opera of Riga, Latvia, and under Maestro Victor Korolkov in St. Petersburg, Russia. His international dance career of more than thirty years includes many leading roles with the Pasadena Dance Theater and the Los Angeles Asian American Ballet Company under Maestro Stephan Mucsi from the Budapest Opera. As a highlight of his career, Mr. Mestas was chosen to dance the Grand Pas de Deux in the Ballet The Graduation Ball, by the great Russian dancer/choreographer David Lichine, in honor of Lichine's wife, great Russian ballerina Tatiana Riabouchinska. Educational Experience A dedicated, experienced teacher and ballet instructor, Luis Mestas taught at the Marat Daukaiev School of Ballet in Los Angeles. Marat Daukaiev is a former star of the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. The school was voted "Best of L.A" by Los Angeles Magazine in 2011. Mr. Mestas holds a double Master's Degree in Leadership and Education and in Business Administration. While teaching at Los Angeles public schools, he served as artistic director of a pilot program providing opportunities for underprivileged youth at Los Angeles inner city schools. He was awarded the Who is Who Among American Teachers Award in 2005 and 2006. Mr. Mestas currently teaches in the Aberdeen and Hoquiam School Districts. Luis Mestas teaching ballet at Seabrook. |