Born in Caracas, Venezuela, to Croatian parents, Irene began dancing at the age of three and was trained by some of the most prestigious ballet teachers in Venezuela, such as Irina Ivanova, Rafael Portillo, Nina Novak, Keyla Ermecheo, Vladimir Lopoukhov, and Vicente Abad, among many others. Through her teenage years she became entirely dedicated to ballet, but at the age of 18 she decided to pursue other interests, obtaining a BA degree in Translation and Interpretation in Spanish, English, and French from the Central University of Venezuela, the country’s most renowned university. Years later she obtained another degree, this time as Lawyer, graduating with Honors from the same Alma Mater, and thereafter two Master Degrees in Family and Children Law and Procedure Law. Nevertheless, during her studies and professional career both as translator and lawyer, her love and joy for dancing never faded and she managed to combine her professional life with ballet practice and for over 12 years she taught ballet and jazz to children and teenagers in Caracas.