Cuban Ballet Program

Howard Quintero Photo by Christian Bohnenkamp

Howard Quintero

Founder

Ballet Dancer | Choreographer| Ballet Teacher

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.

Marlen Moreno Photo by Olivier Charlet

Marlen Moreno

Founder

Ballet, character dance and PBT teacher

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.