PC: Sam Zauscher
Cindy Huang
Co-Founder/Co-Director
UBC Outstanding Classical Coach Award Winner 2021
YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award Winner 2020
Cindy has been a professional in both the dance and Pilates industries for over fifteen years. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Cindy's early dance and Pilates training began in Riverside, California under the direction of Glenda Carhart and David Allan. Shortly after, she was awarded a four-year merit scholarship to study at the prestigious School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. Studying under the guidance of Peter Martins, Kay Mazzo, Peter Boal, Katrina Killian, Darci Kistler, Andrei Kramarevsky, Sean Lavery, Susan Pilarre, Suki Schorer, Jock Soto, and Sheryl Ware, Cindy's ballet training specialized in the Balanchine style, bringing an emphasis in musicality and fast footwork to her dancing. As a student, Cindy originated roles in works by Davide Bombana, Charlotte Griffin, and Edwaard Liang. She also had the privilege of working with and studying alongside some of today’s top choreographers and brightest stars such as Christopher d’Amboise, Robert Fairchild, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, and Christopher Wheeldon, to name a few.
While training full-time at SAB, Cindy worked closely with PMA Gold Certified and Master Trainer, Phoebe Higgins, to further her Pilates education. She was also awarded an academic scholarship to study at the elite Professional Children's School, where notable alumni such as Suzanne Farrell, Yo-Yo Ma, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vera Wang, and many others have attended. Cindy continued to spend multiple summers training on scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and American Ballet Theatre.
At the age of 17, Cindy was given a contract to begin her professional performing career with the Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella. This opportunity catapulted her career and continued to take her all over the world, dancing with companies such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal, Canada and Ballet San Jose in San Jose, California. Throughout her career, Cindy has performed numerous Principal and Soloist roles in a vast repertoire of classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works such as Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Alicia Alonso’s Giselle, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Serenade, Theme & Variations, and Who Cares?, Jorma Elo’s Glow-Stop, Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Prism, Igal Perry’s Infinity, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Paul Taylor’s Piazzolla Caldera, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, among many others. She has originated roles in works by Jessica Lang, Amy Seiwert, and Yuri Zhukov, and has been privileged to work with some of the world’s top teachers and choreographers such as Loipa Araujo, Jose Manuel Carreño, Wes Chapman, John Clifford, Alan Hineline, Darla Hoover, Dwight Rhoden, and Damian Woetzel.
Cindy has toured both nationally and internationally, participating in many dance festivals such as Les Etes de la Danse in Paris, France, the Vail International Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado, and Festival Danza Oviedo in Oviedo, Spain. Cindy has appeared in a PBS televised broadcast of “Great Performances,” performing Balanchine’s Square Dance and Western Symphony. She has also acted in a short film entitled, “The Ballet Dancer" alongside So You Think You Can Dance star, Alex Wong, and is pictured in the children’s book “Put Your Best Foot Forward” by Suki Scorer.
Cindy attributes her healthy performing career to her experience cross-training with Pilates. After completing over 100 hours of observation, over 100 hours of self practice, and over 200 hours of teaching, she became a CTTC certified Pilates instructor through Body Arts and Science International in 2013. Under the tutelage of Karen Clippinger, she also obtained a unique certificate in Pilates with Dance Specialization.
Cindy retired from the stage in 2016 after a decade-long performing career and became an Artistic Associate and the Pilates Director of Los Gatos Ballet in Silicon Valley, CA. Within one year, she grew the Pilates studio exponentially and was honored with the title of “Best Pilates Studio in Silicon Valley” by Metro Silicon Valley for two consecutive years in a row (2017 & 2018). Cindy's students have been accepted into many professional institutions such as the Academie Princesse Grace, Juilliard, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, Houston Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet West, and USC Kaufman. Cindy has also worked with prominent organizations such as Tulsa Ballet and Beijing Dance Academy as an assistant stager for Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer, Jorma Elo.
Having moved from the Bay Area with her rescue dog, Charlie, and her husband, Raul, Cindy is thrilled to bring her knowledge and talents to the San Diego community where she hopes to not only build excellence through dance, but build healthy minds and bodies through Pilates as well. Cindy also currently serves as Artistic Associate for Golden State Ballet Company.