Lolita San Miguel
Lolita San Miguel (born 1934) is a celebrated Pilates Elder and master teacher, distinguished as one of only two people officially certified by Joseph Pilates. A former Metropolitan Opera Ballet soloist, she transitioned to Pilates after a knee injury in 1958, later founding the Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico and Lolita's Legacy Teacher Training program.
Her Story...
Early Life and Dance Career
Born on October 9, 1934, in NYC to Puerto Rican parents, she moved to Puerto Rico at age 3 and returned to New York at 11, where she trained at the School of American Ballet.
Performance: She graduated from the Performing Arts High School in 1952, subsequently dancing with the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet, Robert Joffrey Ballet, and Ben Harkarvy Ballet.
Soloist: She was a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet for over 10 years.
Pilates Journey and Certification
Introduction: After a knee injury, she began training with Carola Trier in 1958.
Certification: She studied under Joseph and Clara Pilates and, along with Kathleen Stanford Grant, was certified by Joseph Pilates in 1967 through the State University of New York.
"Distinguished Elder": She is recognized as one of the four original "Distinguished Elders" of the Pilates Method Alliance.
Legacy and Contributions
Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico: She founded this company in 1978 and served as its Artistic and Executive Director for 28 years.
Mentorship: She launched the Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master Mentor Program (2009) and later the 500-hour Lolita's Legacy program, training teachers globally.
She established international biennial Pilates conferences and is active in honoring Joseph Pilates, specifically in his birthplace in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
She wrote her autobiography, "My Enchanted Life".
She continues to inspire the Pilates community around the world!