Our award-winning school provides world-class ballet instruction in the tradition of the Cuban method.
About The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School
SCBS was founded in 2012 by the Cuban-born husband and wife team of Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernandez. Born in Cuba, they trained at the elite National Ballet School of Cuba and performed internationally. In 1993 they moved to Sarasota to join the Sarasota Ballet. Co-Artistic Directors of SCBS, they teach classes at all levels for students from age three to adults, but the heart of its program is a rigorous training course to prepare talented, serious young dancers for professional careers. Students of SCBS have gone on to perform with Dance Theater of Harlem, Milwaukee Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West and the Royal Ballet School and Company.
About the Cuban Style
SCBS is the only school in the United States specializing in the Cuban training style, which is renowned for its athleticism, passion and grace. The Cuban Style is Russian-based, emphasizing dancing with the entire body, promoting harmonious movement among arms, legs and torso. It is very clean and precise, but not stiff. It has a romantic feel, with attentive partnering, and is changing the face of modern ballet with superb technique and impeccable footwork.
Our mission is to foster global understanding by training a diverse student body of beginning through pre-professional dancers, recruited internationally and locally, in the Cuban ballet style; to provide scholarship assistance for talented students in financial need; to offer diversity in cultural performances in our community; and to bring educational programs and performances to schools, nursing homes and civic organizations.
