Sarasota Cuban Ballet School was founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernandez, both former principal dancers. The award winning Florida ballet school provides world class ballet instruction in the tradition of the Cuban method.
 

History of Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

Since opening its doors in 2012, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School has seen remarkable success. In its first year, the school was presented with the Outstanding School Award by the Youth American Grand Prix in Atlanta in 2013.


Husband and wife team Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernandez were influenced by some of the great master teachers in Cuba: Fernando Alonso, Estele Garcia, Aurora Bosch, Ramona De Saa among others. In the Cuban tradition, they were selected at a young age to learn the art. Through their diligence, intense training, and natural talent, they emerged to become principal dancers with various companies throughout the world.

In 2012, they opened the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School to share their expertise and love of the art with their students. Although since opening they have seen almost immediate success, their journey to this point is a story of perseverance against tremendous odds and demonstrates the power of sheer will to make dreams come true.

Artistic Director Ariel Serrano

A lean man with dark piercing eyes, Ariel Serrano was born in Oriente, Cuba. He began his training at the National School of Arts and graduated in 1990, in Italy.  He embarked upon his professional career with a debut in Apollo at the Festival de Vignales.

Serrano returned to Cuba in 1991 and brought his evident talent to interpret principal roles from the classical repertoire: Paquita, La Fille Mal Gardee, Swan Lake, The Flower Festival, Guillermo Tell, Giselle, Coppelia, and Don Quixote pas de Deux - under the direction of Fernando Alonso.

In 1992, joined the Youth Ballet of the National Ballet of Cuba under Laura Alonso, and under the artistic direction of Alicia Alonso he delighted audiences with his renditions of the pas de Deux in works such as Diana and Acteon, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, and Majismo as well as many contemporary works by Cuban choreographers. In 1993, Serrano and his wife Wilmian Hernandez traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, to perform with Ann Marie D‘Angelo and her dance company.  There he dazzled audiences in principal roles - in the full version of Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Nuestros Valses of Vicente Nebrada, as well as contemporary choreography of Ann Marie D’Angelo.

In 1995, Artistic Director Robert de Warren recognized Serrano‘s amazing energy and talent by inviting him to perform as principal with the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. His vibrant adaptations of principal roles in full performances of ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Carmen and a Midsummer Night’s Dream, have brought him great acclaim from Florida audiences.

Serrano has been recognized and been given the opportunity to work with many great names of the dance world such as Melissa Hayden, Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, and Laura Alonso.  He has toured Europe, America and Asia and one of the highest honors in Serrano’s young career has been the chance to participate in the ballet contest in Helsinki, Finland, where he finished with top honors.

Pre-Professional Program

The pre-professional program rigorously prepares the most advanced dancers to perform at their highest ability. Students at the pre-professional level train 26+ hours per week and compete in international and national dance competitions.

Many of the students are top winners in national competitions such as the American Dance Competition and the Youth American Grand Prix.