Highlights

Mihai: I am very happy that I could find a place where I can train over the summer because it’s very expensive for dancers, especially for international dancers who don’t get a job during the summer, to find a place where they are able to take class and keep in shape whatever their future plans are. Taking class at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet not only keeps us in in shape, but we can see different techniques that help us open our horizon. Because I have a Russian school background, there’s so many new things that I can learn from Ariel, Monica, and Rolando. I’m very grateful for everything they have given me, but also, I’m so happy to see the dancers and the energy in the studio every time, no matter which teacher is in the room. Everyone is trying to give their best in a positive and a healthy environment.

Ivan: There’s a very big level of appreciation from the staff and there’s a lot of support from the staff, the dancers, and the whole community.

BW: You both volunteered to help with partnering class for our Summer Intensive. What is that like for you?

Ivan: Personally, I love it because the last time I did a partnering class was when I was back in school in Switzerland when I was probably 18. It’s very nice to dive back in and get to do certain steps again or partnering moves that you don’t always do in a company because of varied choreography. Getting to work with these young kids that have different levels is nice because you see diversity and how a simple ballet move starts and how it’s supposed to end. In the partnering class we get to work with dancers who are 13 and some who are a little older. I always enjoy partnering and the teachers are so good at explaining the exercises. I am having a very good time.

Mihai: Also, I think it’s very important for the young ladies to have experienced dancers like us as partners. It gives them a step forward knowing that they trust the person behind them because they have a little more experience. I’m happy that I can give that to the young dancers.

BW: Mihai, you also volunteered to teach our conditioning class. How is that experience?

Mihai: I was very surprised to see how strong the dancers are with stamina and balance. The dancers have very strong ankles, which I don’t see very often in some schools. It is a very positive experience and the feedback from the dancers has also been positive. I try to combine the hard work with fun at the same time. I am very happy to help and support them with their conditioning.

BW: Macarena and Max, how do you feel about the opportunity to take class this summer at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet?

Macarena: It’s an amazing experience because it’s so important for professional dancers to have a space to train - the right place with the right people and the right teachers. We’re going to be forever grateful to Ariel, Monica, and Rolando.  It’s not just about the quality of the classes or the wonderful building you have. It’s about how they made us feel and the quality of the training. They are such good people. As professional dancers, we’re grateful for that. And they are not just this way with us – they are the same with all the dancers. I think it’s important for the community to have this resource.

BW: What was the Cuban training like for you? Is it different than what you’re used to?

Max: It was different, but it’s always important to have an open mind and take that knowledge from the Cuban technique. For us it was a growth experience.

Macarena: We learned so much and we trust the teachers. And it was amazing to have them in front of the room teaching every single class. The Cuban technique for sure is different for us, but we learned a lot. It was an amazing time for us.

Max: Definitely a plus for us.

BW: Ariel, what does SCBS gain in welcoming professional dancers to take class with us at no charge when they are in Sarasota?

Ariel: It’s a great benefit to our young dancers to see professional dancers in transition or on break in class with us, seeing their behavior, the way they work, how much they appreciate the training. We’re showing young dancers the future, making them a part of that experience. I’ve especially enjoyed this summer with the group we have right now because we have such variety of males and females dancing together, some of them helping with partnering. It has been an amazing opportunity for our young dancers to share space and time with these talented professional dancers.

BW: Francisco, what’s it like to come back and take class as a professional dancer?

Francisco: It’s quite literally the feeling of coming home. It’s everything that I used to know, but also, it’s a way back to the basics of school classes and school technique, which is nice. After coming back from a whole season in a professional company, it’s the nicest part to always go back to my roots.

BW: You trained here in the Cuban method, then you went to The Royal Ballet. How is it going from The Royal Ballet back to the Cuban style for the summer? 

Francisco: It’s nice. As a dancer you always pick up tricks and trades from all sorts of people and experiences. I think I’ve evolved in some way, but I can also come back here and get that extra Cuban training I’ve always known. I get to refine all those little things I’ve forgotten. It’s always great to come back and re-evaluate.

BW: Rolando and Monica, what is it like to have our alum who are now professional dancers return to Sarasota and take class with you when they are on break?

Rolando: I think it has great value to see these professional dancers coming back to the roots of their training. But it also has value for the younger dancers to see how these professional dancers work – to see us giving the professional dancers corrections and how they are still learning and growing.

Monica: It’s important for the young dancers who are not professionals to see how the professionals move, how they learn, and even how they take corrections. It’s important because sometimes the young dancers say I want a challenge and I say the point is not to do too many things, it’s just to do it right. They see professional dancers taking corrections, listening carefully and applying the corrections, and repeating and repeating and repeating. The lesson is to be consistent. Sometimes when the professionals are with their company, the class is shorter. When they come here the class is longer and they often say, oh my goodness, this is almost too much, it’s really demanding. But they really like it. They get to focus on the things they may sometimes miss because company class goes so fast.

Monica: I also like having professionals here because they are humble - they’re very nice people. They show the quality of their dancing, but they also talk to the younger dancers. They are always sharing with the younger dancers how to do steps, how to move their arms, for example. To me it feels like a family. It’s an ensemble with energy, passion, and dedication shared between all the dancers.

On Before is an intimate contemporary ballet made for two dancers. Acosta will dance with Laura Rodriguez from Acosta Danza, the company he founded in Havana. It is his most personal work to date. This performance showcases the highest caliber and mastery of a craft one can aspire to in dance, and the opportunity to witness this dancer’s greatness live is a once in a lifetime experience.

“It’s a very abstract and contemporary ballet that represents at once the mother, the lover, the full circle. My mother was the balance in my house to my father’s volatility. She was very soft and caring, very sweet, almost like a kid. I made this show to pay her homage,” says Carlos Acosta, CBE.

The performance features choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography.

Carlos Acosta’s artistry defined a generation and paved the way for future generations of dancers. He is an internationally recognized and beloved figure who has influenced the dance community and pop culture monumentally.

“As the curtain falls on 'Carlos Acosta: On Before', audiences are left to reflect on the enduring power of dance to convey the deepest of human emotions. Acosta's performance is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and 'On Before' stands as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of art in navigating the complexities of love, loss, and legacy,” writes Olalekan Adigun of BNN News in his review, “Carlos Acosta Triumphs in 'On Before' at Theatre Royal Plymouth: A Dance Spectacle of Love and Loss.”

Date and Time: April 19-20, 2024, at 7:30 pm
Venue: Sarasota Opera House
Ticket Information: Tickets for Carlos Acosta On Before can be purchased online at the Sarasota Opera House’s website, https://tickets.sarasotaopera.org/6674/6679, or by calling the box office at (941) 328-1300. 

About Carlos Acosta: Born in Havana in 1973, Acosta trained at the National Ballet School of Havana in Cuba. After winning a succession of awards, including the Prix de Lausanne in 1990, he went on to dance professionally with the world’s most prestigious companies, with London’s Royal Ballet becoming his home. Acosta retired from classical ballet in 2016, after 28 years. He established Acosta Danza in 2016 and in January 2020 he became Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Carlos is also the Chairman of the Acosta Dance Foundation founded in 2011, and established the internationally renowned Acosta Dance Centre in 2023.

About The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School: The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS) is a premier destination for Cuban training in the United States. Classes are small and taught by an international faculty following the renowned Cuban method. The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School 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. The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School was designated a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 2014.

Media Contact: Travis Cornwell T: 941.929.3104 | E: tcornwell@next-mark.com