Hometown: Levy Gasparian, Brazil

Rui Cruz grew up in a small town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began his dance training at the age of thirteen at Núcleo de Dança- Ador’art, and at fourteen he moved to the capitol of Rio de Janeiro, continuing his studies at Grupo Cultural de Dança-Ilha under the direction of Patrícia Marques. For five years he studied and participated in several national and international competitions including Youth American Grand Prix Finals in New York City, the 2020 Prix de Lausanne, and the 2021 Prix de Lausanne, where he qualified as a finalist and received the Contemporary Dance Award by Minerva Kunststiftung.

Rui has been awarded numerous scholarships from top training facilities including Miami City Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, Tulsa Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Paris Marais Dance School and the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company.

At 19, Rui was named company apprentice at Miami City Ballet. He was extended an offer to join MCB as corps de ballet member shortly thereafter in 2021.