Cuban Ballet Program

Born in Havana, Cuba, embarked on his ballet journey at the age of 8 when he joined the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Ballet in La Havana. His talent quickly garnered attention, leading him to represent Cuba in various international ballet competitions. Notably, he achieved an Honor Diploma in Varna in 1996 and a Silver Medal in Vignale Danza in Italy in 1994.

After completing his education, Howard joined the National Ballet of Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. Over the course of two years, he performed numerous principal roles in classical ballets, including Don Quichotte, Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardée, Paquita, and more.

In 1998, Howard’s exceptional skills caught the eye of Robert Berthier, the director of Jeune Ballet de France, leading him to move to Paris. This year marked significant achievements, with Howard winning a Silver Medal in the Paris competition and both a Gold Medal and Grand Prix in Luxembourg.

His success in Paris opened doors to ballet galas and collaborations with renowned dancers, earning him the title “Cuban Tornado.” Further accolades came in 1998 when he secured a Gold Medal and Grand Prix in the Joinville competition in Brazil.

At the age of 21, Howard joined the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium, dancing principal roles in classical and modern productions. Noteworthy performances include 3 Mousquetaires, Romeo and Juliet, Bayadère, Carmina Burana, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake.

His career continued to flourish as he explored different choreographic styles with companies like Leipziger Ballett and Dortmund Ballet in Germany. In 2015, Howard transitioned from performing to become an assistant and guest ballet teacher, contributing his expertise to various renowned companies worldwide.

In 2018, Howard ventured into choreography, creating a new classical version of Giselle for the Slovenian National Ballet. The premiere’s success led to invitations to perform at festivals in Italy, Germany, and Slovenia.

In 2021, he created “Alice in Wonderland” for the National Ballet of Portugal, which was broadcast on national TV.

Looking ahead, Howard plans to create a new ballet for the Annarella Ballet School in 2024, showcasing his dedication to nurturing future talents and exploring new choreographic horizons.

Howard Quintero Lopez’s multifaceted journey in ballet reflects his passion, talent, and commitment to artistic exploration and education.

Certified teacher and choreographer specializing in classical and character dance. In 2008, she graduated in the Art of Dance from the University of the Arts in Cuba, earning the Gold Certificate qualification. Thanks to this training, she had the opportunity to perform in the most important theaters in Havana.

In 2014, she published a book on the pedagogy and methodology of teaching classical dance by Fernando Alonso, the father of the Cuban ballet school.

As a classical dance teacher and choreographer at the Cátedra de Danza of the National Ballet of Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso for 6 years, she achieved the category of ‘first level’ as a ballet master. In 2013, she created a version of the ballet Snow White for the end-of-year performance, involving 300 students.

In 2008, she became part of the faculty at the prestigious National School of Cuba ‘Fernando Alonso,’ where she taught various academic disciplines, worked as a choreographer, and participated in international ballet academy competitions. Simultaneously, she taught classical dance at the Contemporary Dance Company ‘Rosario Cárdenas.’

Since her arrival in Belgium in 2014, she has been a resident teacher at the Brussels Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Menia Martinez, instructing in classical dance, pointe technique, character dance, repertoire, and as a rehearsal director.

Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Level 3, with the highest level, a training method recognized by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).

She is a guest teacher in several schools in Belgium and participates in various internationally recognized workshops, preparing students for national and international competitions with success.

He was born on August 21, 1981, in Villa Clara, Santa Clara, Cuba. He studied at the Olga Alonso Provincial Ballet School from the first to the third year of Ballet and completed his Elementary level studies at the Alejo Carpentier Elementary Ballet School. Later, he graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba Fernando Alonso as a dancer and teacher. As a student, he won gold (1997), bronze (1998), and silver (1999) medals at the International Ballet Competitions in Havana, Cuba.

He began his professional career as a dancer in the Ballet Company of Camaguey (Cuba) as a Soloist for two years. He then joined the National Ballet Company of Ecuador, where he served as Principal Dancer for four years. He also held the position of Principal Dancer at the Ballet Municipal de Lima (Peru) for eight years and later became the Principal Dancer at the National Ballet Company of Peru for four years. Throughout his career, he danced with renowned figures such as Lorna Feijoó, Rolando Sarabia, Jaime Francisco, among others, and his repertoire included major classical ballets such as Coppelia, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, La Fille Mal Gardée, Giselle, Harlequinade, Swan Lake, Grand Pas de Paquita, La Sylphide, Les Sylphides, Diana and Acteon, La Bayadère, among other classical and neoclassical choreographies.

After concluding his dance career, he embarked on a teaching career at the National Ballet School of Cuba. He worked in Ecuador as a founding teacher at the Metropolitan School of Dance in Quito and in Peru, where he served as the sub-director of the Crescendo Ballet School in Lima and a teacher at the Rosie Schottland Ballet Clásico School, also in Lima. He was also a teacher at the Olga Alonso Provincial Ballet School in Villa Clara, Cuba.

More recently, he worked as a guest teacher at the Annarella Sánchez International Ballet and Dance Conservatory’s Summer Intensive Course, teaching Cuban Folklore, Ballet, Pointe Technique, Repertoire, and Pas de Deux Technique.

Over the past years, he had the opportunity to work with internationally renowned teachers such as Fernando Alonso, Vladimir Issaev, Ramona de Sáa, Carlos Acosta, Raquel Aguero Mercado, Lourdes Arnau, Carlos Valcárcel, and Maina Gielgud.

He has received awards as a choreographer in national competitions in Cuba, and most recently, students trained by him were awarded at the Barcelona semifinal of the Youth America Grand Prix 2019.

Choreographer, docent and a performing artist born in Havana, Cuba in 1991. He received his early education in dance at the UAD Ballet Español de Cuba, under the direction of Eduardo Veitia. After graduating at the National School of Dance in 2011, he has since worked with Danza Contemporánea de Cuba and with choreographers Rosario Cardenas, Pepe Hevia, Julio Cesar Iglesias, Theo Clinkard, Lucy Suggate, Iris Reyes, Faizah Grootens, among others.

In 2022 he created Goyes’ka, a dance and physical theatre emergent project- based company and platform for interdisciplinary works and where he is delving into his own music and choreographic practice. His works have been featured in European and international festivals and contests such as Florence Dance Festival, Burgos & New York International Choreography Contest, LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival, Bevrijdingsdansfestival, Super Ball Amsterdam among others.Together to his creations, he gives dance lessons and workshops in relation to his creative process and new works.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, began his ballet education at the age of 6 at Petite Danse School of Dance with a scholarship from ONG “Dançar a Vida” Social Project, under the direction of Nelma Darzi.

Finalist at Youth America Grand Prix 2005, won a scholarship for San Francisco Ballet School, where he studied for two years.

At 16 years old, started to work under the Direction of Marcelo Misailidis, at Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.

From 2011-2013, Alysson was coached by Pedro Kraszczuk and Cecilia Kerche. In parallel, he was Choreographer and Artistic Coordinator of „Dancar a Vida Youth Company“, Rio de Janeiro.

In 2013, after attending the Job Fair of YAGP, Alysson was invited to join Ballett Dortmund in Germany, creating roles alongside his director Xin Peng Wang and performing pieces from William Forsythe, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Bubenicek and Demis Volpi.

In 2018, Mr. Rocha was appointed Ballet Master with Ballett Dortmund, assisting and keeping the pieces from Ballett Dortmund’s director, Alexander Ekman, Douglas Lee, Wubkje Kuindersma, Giuseppe Spota, Marijn Rademaker and William Forsythe.

Winner of the prize “Dortmunder Löwe 2019” for his “Silent Orchestra” dance/music project with deaf kids.

Since 2020, Mr. Rocha supervises the Professional Ballet Class CDs of Pascal Sévajols, former dancer and accompanist of Roland Petit, Ballett Dortmund and current pianist of the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Bordeaux.

In 2021, Alysson Rocha was appointed by Xin Peng Wang as First Ballet Master with the Ballett Dortmund and in 2022 and 2023 was also invited by Prof. Dr. Alkis Raftis to become a member of the International Dance Council of UNESCO.