Famous for its artistic virtuosity and technical brilliance, the Cuban Ballet School has trained some of the most well known dancers of today and the late 20th Century, and has created a technique that is unmatched in modern day classical ballet. Today, many of the most gifted practitioners of this style are living in exile, distanced from the origins of the most important classical ballet style to have developed in the Americas. The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami (CCBM), in collaboration with Miami Dade College, mission is to establish a permanent classical ballet company and school that will preserve and further the tradition of the Cuban Classical School of ballet outside of Cuba, creating performance and teaching opportunities for the exiled members of this school in Miami and elsewhere for years to come.

Of the dozens of dancers that have defected from Cuba, many go on to employ there excellent skills dancing works from contemporary to classic in famous classical companies of the world, yet none have the opportunity to dedicate their careers to the performance and preservation of their style, and can no longer train under the same tutelage that the Cuban School once offered them. As their ranks disperse to different cities in the U.S. and abroad, the tradition becomes diluted and less available to audiences and young artists that could enjoy this unique practice.

The permanent establishment of the CCBM will provide an opportunity for exiled colleagues to reunite in a company environment where they can advance their art form through the rigorous training and standard of artistic excellence for which the Cuban Ballet is known. The company will provide a base of support for dancers insuring continuity of performance, practice and a milieu where the practitioners of the form can showcase their exquisite technique and artistry. The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami’s artistic mission is dedicated to the presentation and preservation of the classic ballet works of the world.

The company school will also provide a training environment for young dancers of promise outside of Cuba where they can share in the traditions of the Cuban Classical School and apprentice with principal dancers from the original company. This endeavor will preserve the style and legacy of the Cuban Classical School by producing new dancers that will come to professional maturity within the ranks of company, providing them with professional assets to make them more desirable in the world of performing arts as artists and teachers.

Our city Miami, also known as the Gateway to the Americas, has become one of the most important cities in the United States, surprising major analysts worldwide with its actual and potential growth and development. But the development of a city cannot be measured by financial transactions alone. The true development of a city is also measured by its culture. In this regard, hundreds of local artists and government agencies have been investing in the development of a Cultural Miami, showing off the cultural wealth, and multiethnic diversity that makes Greater Miami one of the most interesting and promising cities on the international cultural scene. Because of the large number of residents of Hispanic descent in the area, the awareness of the potential of Latin artists to contribute to growth and innovation is high, and represents an inherent demand for world class performing arts by these same artists.

Through its 12 year history the Miami Hispanic Ballet & Creation Art Center, the 501 c-3 nonprofit umbrella organization for the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami and the International Ballet Festival of Miami, coming up to it’s thirteenth season in 2008 and considered one of the premier dance events in the US, has developed a strong and diverse audience and has a year round training program that is working with some of the most promising young ballet talent in the south Florida area. This past year the International Ballet Festival of Miami performances attracted over 11,000 people and the combined four performances of the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami over 7,000 With an expanded program for 2008 (7+ performances) the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami anticipates over 12,000 attendees in Miami alone. For a local Miami performing arts event, these numbers are extraordinary and demonstrate the demand for this type of programming, drawing audiences from all sectors of Miami Dade County, South Florida, nationally and internationally.

The difficult political and emotional reality of exile for many artists often interferes with their ability to choose how and where they practice as they have been disconnected from their tradition and have to take on work in a variety of companies where styles vary radically. While these opportunities are beneficial to some, an overwhelming number of exiled Cuban classical dancers are seeking an opportunity to reunite under the umbrella of the tradition of the Cuban Classical School in their new home. The first incarnation of the CCBM made its debut in February of 2006 “ brought down the house”, and will continue to present programming through 2008 and beyond.

For CCBM’s premiere of Giselle in Miami 2007, the six principal dancers were all from the National Ballet of Cuba now working free lance for various companies in the U.S. and abroad. Such names as Rolando Sarabia, Lorena Feijoó, Aliehaydee Carreño, Adiarys Almeida, Daniel Sarabia, Daymel Sánchez, Octavio Martin, and Isanusi Garcia have all performed to critical acclaim for audiences in Miami, and have been featured in TIME Magazine, The TODAY Show and most recently the subject of PBS & BBC documentary. They have expressed their willingness to relocate to South Florida to offer their commitment to the company. The critical mass of this kind of talent outside of Cuba is unprecedented and represents an opportunity to galvanize the creative energy that will re-establish and transport this classical style with force into the 21st Century.

While there are other classical ballet institutions that are based and perform locally, none is dedicated to a specific classical style and has as its mission to preserve the classical form while stewarding in a new generation of talent in that same tradition. Because of its geography, Miami is the perfect location to attract talented young students from all over the Caribbean and Latin America, and it will be one of the company’s goals to expand its teaching program and extend scholarship opportunities to students of Latin descent, as well as others, who may otherwise not have resources to study.

The company has already developed ties with other presenters in Florida outside of Miami Dade County, and internationally with Spain, Italy the Dominican Republic and elsewhere to enhance its performance opportunities. This means that the Cuban Classical style can be developed in a company forum, provide Miami with a performance season and school, and share this talent with audiences and students from around the globe in dynamic touring that strengthens the cultural ties between South Florida and the U.S, Latin America and Europe. This exchange represents a level of artistic commerce that Miami’s current overall cultural development is lacking.