The Sarasota Cuban Ballet

10/06/2026

When the bros got your back 💪🏼

10/02/2026

Meet Harold | Guest Artist
Harold Mendez was born in Havana, Cuba, and received his dance training at Cuba’s National Ballet School, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, and San Francisco Ballet School. As a student, he had the opportunity to perform with the school and company in most of the popular classical ballets. He has competed in numerous ballet competitions, receiving the Bronze Medal at YAGP, the Gold Medal at the World Ballet Competition, the Bronze Medal at the USA IBC, and was a competitor in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. He was a Company Artist with the State Street Ballet from 2021-2026 and has been a frequent guest artist with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company.

09/30/2026

Fall is here and so is Dracula 🧛‍♂️

Journey to Transylvania and experience the legend of Dracula and all who share his world

Be sure to wear your spookiest costume! A ticket to the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Nutcracker
will be awarded to the best costume at each performance.

Get your tickets before its too late
https://bit.ly/4xrZEFA

09/28/2026

What a way to start the season 🖤
Fractles by Tania Vergara

09/25/2026

Meet Sofia | New company member

This is Sofia Johnson’s first season as Lead Artist with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company. She was raised in Palmetto, Florida, and began dancing at Diane Partington’s Studio of Classical Ballet. After graduating high school, Sofia was accepted into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of Susan Jaffe, where she pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in classical ballet. After graduating she joined the Alabama Ballet in 2023, where she danced diverse repertoire like George Balanchine’s Serenade and Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Songs. Johnson is excited to be back dancing in Sarasota.

09/23/2026

Remember to get tickets for this weekend!
Ticket link in bio

09/21/2026

On September 17, WGCU PBS Southwest Florida Insights aired a story about the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company and our season opener. The Studio Company is seen rehearsing two pieces featured in Classical+Contemporary on September 25-27, Canto Vital, created in 1973 for the Cuban National Ballet by Azari Plisetski for 4 male dancers, and Grand Pas de Quatre, created in 1845 by Jules Perrot for legendary ballerinas Lucile Grahn, Carlotta Grisi, F***y Cerrito, and Marie Taglioni.

Watch Cuban Ballet Artistry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HyTV3-f3GY

Get your tickets for classical+contemporary here: https://bit.ly/4g7cWBA

The Sarasota Cuban Ballet opens its season this weekend with "Class...

09/18/2026

Meet Gian | New company member

This is Gian Narayassamy’s first season as Lead Artist with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company. Originally from French Caribbean Guadeloupe, he began his dance training at Léna Blue Dance School doing modern and jazz techniques before joining Karukera Ballet School, where he trained for two years and began his classical ballet training at 16. He continued his training at the Alvin Ailey School in New York on scholarship for two years, followed by The Washington Ballet, where he received a two-year scholarship and completed his studies. Narayassamy also attended the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Summer Intensive three times on scholarship. His training in modern, jazz, contemporary, and classical ballet has shaped him into a versatile artist with a strong passion for movement and performance.

Come watch Gian Next weekend September 26 - 27 in our Classical+Contemporary Program!

09/17/2026

Please RSVP through the link below if you would like to join us.
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/DrKCelebration

09/09/2026

Our 2026/2027 Studio Company members 🩰

We have seven new dancers and two promotions for the 2026–2027 Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company. Sofia Johnson, formerly with Alabama Ballet, Gian Narayassamy, formerly with Washington Ballet, and Leo Okuno, formerly with Atlanta Ballet, were appointed Lead Artists. They join returning Lead Artists Brian Guerrero, Katherine Lane, and Evelyn Lyman.

Shannon McNiven, formerly with Orlando Ballet, also joined the Studio Company as Artist along with Addison Josey, who was promoted to Artist. Three new dancers are now Studio Company Apprentices (Gianna Gallardo, Orlando Ballet School; Shelby Hillis, Ballet Spartanburg; and Isabella Serrano, Tania Vergara Dance Theater),
joining returning Apprentice Melanie Epuri.

In addition, Guest Artists Jhostin Jiménez, a Dance Open America Grand Prix first place winner and best choreographer awardee, and Harold Mendez, a Sarasota Cuban Ballet alumnus formerly with State Street Ballet, will be appearing with the 12 members of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet Studio Company this season.