Ariel Serrano
Co-Founder and Artistic Director

Born and raised in Oriente, Cuba, Ariel Serrano grew up training at his country’s National School of Ballet system. He concluded his studies in 1990 at the National School of Arts in Italy. Upon his return to Cuba, he danced with Ballet Camagüey under the direction of Fernando Alonso, and then joined the Youth Corps of the National Ballet of Cuba under Laura Alonso and artistic director Alicia Alonso. Next, he became a principal dancer with the Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico. In 1993, he and his wife, Wilmian Hernández, defected from Cuba. A year later, they were invited to join The Sarasota Ballet, then under the direction of Robert de Warren, where they both danced principal roles until their retirement in 2000.

In 2011, Serrano and Hernández co-founded the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS). This is the first school in the United States to exclusively teach the Cuban training method to all proficiency levels, from beginners to pre-professional.

Every year, Mr. Serrano recruits students from across the US and around the world, so the school might meet its goal of fostering global understanding and nurturing culturally diverse talent for the enrichment of America’s ballet scene.

Under his direction, SCBS students have participated in multiple national and international competitions. The school has earned top accolades—including YAGP Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding School—and its students have taken home multiple awards, including scholarships and gold and silver medals.

Additionally, Mr. Serrano has guest-taught at many prestigious schools throughout the US, United Kingdom, South America, and the Caribbean. He also has served as an expert judge in several international ballet competitions.

One of Mr. Serrano’s greatest accomplishments is the success of his students. You can find SCBS alumni at prestigious schools and companies, such as The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Miami City Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, State Street Ballet, Ballet Manila, and Ballet Municipal de Lima.

Wilmian Hernández
Co-Founder and Managing Director

A native of Havana, Cuba, Wilmian Hernández graduated from the National School of Arts in Cuba in 1984 and began her professional career under the artistic direction of Fernando Alonso at Ballet Cuba, rose to principal dancer, and then joined the Youth Ballet of the National Ballet of Cuba under Laura Alonso and artistic director Alicia Alonso. In 1993, she accepted an invitation from Marie D‘Angelo to join the Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico. While in Monterrey, Hernández and her husband, Ariel Serrano, took the hard decision of defecting from Cuba and a year later moved to the United States to join The Sarasota Ballet, then under the direction of Robert de Warren. It was in Sarasota where Hernández and Serrano danced principal roles until their retirement in 2000.

Ms. Hernández didn’t leave the dance world for long. After her daughter Camila was born, she started working as a guest instructor at various ballet schools in Florida.

In 2011, Hernández and Serrano co-founded the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS). This is the first-ever school in the United States to exclusively teach the Cuban training method to all proficiency levels, from beginners to pre-professional. Ms. Hernández is responsible for building the skill and confidence of our young and intermediate level dancers so they can be ready to perform at their best level in auditions, competitions, and shows.

Under her direction, SCBS students have participated in multiple national and international competitions. The school has earned top accolades—including YAGP Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding School—and her students have taken home multiple awards, including scholarships and gold and silver medals.

One of Ms. Hernandez’s greatest accomplishments is the success of her students. Many have gone on to perform and study at prestigious schools and companies, such as TThe Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Miami City Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, State Street Ballet, Ballet Manila, and Ballet Municipal de Lima.

Delia Ballart Arcia
Master Teacher

Ms. Ballart earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Stage Arts and ballet instruction at the Superior Institute of Arts in Cuba. She is one of the founders of the Ballet de Camagüey, where she trained as a professional dancer and served as rehearsal master. She has performed in numerous international and national dance tours and ballet festivals. Ms. Ballart served as maestra at the Cuban National Ballet School and Cuba’s Institute of Arts.

She has garnered international acclaim as a ballet master thanks to the gold, silver, and bronze medals obtained by her students in dance competitions hosted in Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. She is also an award-winning choreographer who has worked with masters, such as Gustavo Herrera, Ivan Tenorio, Jorge Lefebre, and Alberto Alonso among many others. Although she teaches full time at SCBS, Ms. Ballart still finds time to collaborate with other ballet schools and is always willing to assist with instruction, choreography, and stage performances.

Rolando Yanes
Master Teacher and Associate Director
Gulfcoast Studio Company of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

A native of Villa Clara, Cuba, Mr. Yanes was a principal dancer with Ballet de Camagüey under the direction of Fernando Alonso. In 1995, he was awarded a Silver Medal at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Brasilia, Brazil. Mr. Yanes came to the United States in 1996 as a principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet Company and served as director of the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy from 2004 to 2021.

Monica Isla
Master Teacher and Ballet Mistress
Gulfcoast Studio Company of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

A native of Habana, Cuba, Ms. Isla was a dancer with Ballet de Camagüey under the direction of Fernando Alonso, and later a principal dancer with the Pro-Danza Company under the direction of Laura Alonso. In 1996, she was awarded a Silver Medal in the Alicia Alonso International Ballet Competition. Ms. Isla performed with the Neoclassic Company of the University of Mexico, as soloist with Ballet Concerto in Puerto Rico, and performed on international tours. She joined the Milwaukee Ballet School in 2008, and in 2016 she worked with the Rockford Dance Company in Illinois as choreographer of the Nutcracker. Ms. Isla created Healing With Ballet, teaching ballet classes for the Cancer Center in Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin.

Nicole Correa
Ballet Teacher

Born and raised in Boston, Ms. Correa received training on full scholarships at the Boston Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Royal Danish Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre’s School of Classical Ballet. During her professional performing career, Ms. Correa was a participant at the 15th International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. She danced with Charleston Ballet, Memphis Ballet, International Ballet Rotaru, and spent the last seven years of her performing career as a Principal Dancer with The Sarasota Ballet. After the birth of her son in 2001, Ms. Correa transitioned to a teaching career. She has since taught students ages two through adult in various ballet schools throughout Sarasota and the vicinity, including Brandon Ballet School, Sarasota Ballet School, and Gulf Coast Ballet.