Monteś Pirtle has studied and performed with various dance schools and companies across the nation such as SSDA, Ballet Chicago, Visceral Dance, Dance 360, Dance Theater of Harlem, and The Alvin Ailey School. He began his dance training at the age of 17 at South Shore Dance Alliance under the Direction of Larry Brewer. After rigorous training at SSDA, Montes began studying at Ballet Chicago. He was accepted to Ballet Chicago on a full Scholarship and became a Studio Company member shortly after. While fairly new to ballet, Montes was well-versed in other dance forms such as Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern.
In the summer of 2017, while studying under former NYCB Principal Daniel Duell. Montes stepped in as a teacher of Lester Horton Technique for the Ballet Chicago summer intensive. He has been a recurring faculty member and choreographer since then. After Ballet Chicago, he left to pursue modern and contemporary dance at The Alvin Ailey School, where he completed three years as a scholarship student. Montes has worked with world-renowned choreographers and former principal dancers such as Judith Jamison, Robert Battle, Robert Garland, Ray Mercer, Gary Abbot, and Kevin Iega Jeff.
During the pandemic, he furthered his ballet training by working with Nadege Hottier, a former soloist with several European companies including Opera Bon, and Deutsche Opera Berlin. More recently Montes has worked with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Ballet Chicago as a professional Guest Artist. Performing at several venues in the Chicagoland area including the Harris Theater and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. While there he performed the male principal roles in Balanchine’s “Who Cares?” with Ballet Chicago.
Montes is so happy to be returning for his 2nd season with Ballet Virginia.