The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

About The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS) was founded in 2011 by the Cuban-born husband and wife team of Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernández. Serrano and Hernández trained at the elite National Ballet School of Cuba and performed internationally with Ballet de Camagüey and Ballet de Monterrey. In 1993, they moved to Sarasota, where they continued their professional careers as principal dancers with The Sarasota Ballet until their retirement.

At SCBS, Serrano and Hernández, along with a team of award-winning instructors, teach dance classes at all levels for students ages three and up. SCBS doors are always open for those who love to dance, whether they are interested in dancing professionally or are just interested in ballet as a recreational activity.

The heart of the school is its Pre-Professional Program, a rigorous training course that prepares talented, serious young dancers for professional careers following the renowned Cuban method.

Students of SCBS have gone on to perform with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Miami City Ballet, the Dance Theater of Harlem, Washington Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Boston Ballet, Ballet San Antonio, Syracuse City Ballet, State Street Ballet, Ballet Manila, and Ballet Municipal de Lima.

About the Cuban Style
SCBS is one of the few schools in the United States specializing in the Cuban training method, which is renowned for its athleticism, passion, and grace. Developed in the 1940s by Cuban dancer Fernando Alonso, this training method has produced some of the world’s best dancers. It draws on elements from Russian, British, French, and Italian styles and adapts them to the Caribbean character. From day one, training emphasizes balance, turning prowess, flexibility, jump elevation, dynamism, and partnering. The result is dancers who are technically gifted and artistically charismatic.