Faculty

PAULA NUÑEZ, Artistic Director

Paula Nuñez’s professional career started in 1978 at Ballet International of Caracas, under the direction of Vicente Nebrada and Zhandra Rodriguez. Since then, she has danced as soloist and principal dancer of Ballet International of Caracas, Ballet Nuevo Mundo, Ballet Teresa Carreño, Cleveland Ballet, and Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. Zhandra Rodriguez, former principal dancer of the American Ballet Theater, was her most influential teacher and coach, together with Lidija Franklin, Jose Pares, Vicente Nebreda, Hector Zaraspe, and Julio Lamas.

Throughout her career as professional Ballet Dancer, she performed at prestigious theaters around the world: Europe, Russia, Rumania, Hungary, China, Japan, Taiwan, North, Central and South America; performing classical and neo-classical repertoire of renowned choreographers such as Balanchine, Choo San Goh, Alvin Ailey, Agnes de Mille, Terry Orr, Judith Jamison, Jhon Butler, Elisa Monte, Carlos Orta, Dennis Nahat, Ulisses Dove, Vicente Nebrada, Hans Van Mannen, Hector Zaraspe, Flemming Flindt, and Margo Sapington. She has also participated in numerous Festivals such as the Spolleto in Italy , Cervantino in Mexico and the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland . She has also shared the stage with prestigious ballet dancers Cynthia Gregory, Rudolf Nureyev, Fernando Bujones and Julio Boca.

In 1993, she became Artistic Director of “Ballet de las Americas ”, a successful Professional Ballet School in Venezuela and, since then, she has been dedicated to teach students of all ages. Many of Nunez’s former students have continued their careers in Dance and have become professionals in prominent dance companies . Due to her excellent results and outstanding work developing young dancers, she was also appointed as Artistic Director of the Juvenile Ballet Las Americas.

In 2002, Paula expanded her teaching and started America’s Ballet School, at new facility in Tampa , Florida , and continues to develop contemporary and classical choreographies. In 2008, Nunez received “Outstanding Teacher Award at the American Dance Competition and Outstanding School @ Youth American Grand Prix”.

Stella Quintana, General Director

She received her training from Henry Danton, Irina Ivanova, Erick Volodin, Maya Samakvalova, Inna Zubkovskaya, Mijhael Kujarev and Jose Pares. In 1979, she participated in the USA International Ballet Competition Jackson and won a scholarship to study for two years at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow .

Her professional career started in 1980, when she became a soloist of the Metropolitan Ballet of Venezuela. In 1984, she became a member of Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas under the Artistic Direction Zhandra Rodriguez. In 1990, was named Assistant to the resident choreographer and one year later, Assistant of Artistic Director Zhandra Rodriguez. She has performed classic repertoires at the most prestigious theaters around the world.  Including Choreography by Petipa, Fokine, Balanchine, as well as modern works of Jhon Butler, Elisa Monte, Dennis Nahat, Ulisses Dove, Vicente Nebrada, Paulo Denubila, Judith Jamison, Luk de Layress., 

She has acted as Judge in various important Ballet events in Venezuela . In 1993 founded “Ballet de las Americas Foundation ” in Caracas . Ballet de las Americas successfully runs a school with 250 students. Stella is the General Director, and works as Ballet Mistress and Choreographer. Mrs. Quintana has successfully trained and coached many dancers who are today in the most prestigious companies in Venezuela and is dedicated to impart the art of the classical ballet to the new generations, and also to educate the community on this art form.

Faculty

Barbara Valles, Ballet

BFA in Ballet, University Institute of Dance, Venezuela. Danced with Youth Ballet of Venezuela. Ballet teacher, choreographer, program coordinator of activities and performances, Fredy Reyna Music and Ballet School. Dance Program of the Bolivarian Schools of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of Venezuela. Ballet Teacher, Municipal School of Rithym Gymnastics. Caracas, Venezuela. Studied Physical Education (6 semesters), Pedagogic Experimental University the Liberator. Caracas, Venezuela. Took training programs, seminars and workshops including: “Advanced Workshop for Ballet Teachers” (by Master David Howard), “Advanced Workshop for Ballet Dancers” (by Master David Howard), International Seminar and Workshop of Science and Sport, (Gatorade Sport Science Institute), Seminar “Medicine and Art”, Seminar “Vaganova School” (by Master Rumen Rachev), “Floor Barre Workshop” (by Ines Marino from Alvin Ailey).

Osmany Montano, Ballet Cuban National Ballet

Osmany Montano trained with the Cuban National Ballet under the direction of Alicia Alonzo, Vincente Nabrada, Ramona Desaa and Mata Campo.  He has danced with The National Ballet of Cuba and later danced with the National Ballet of Caracas in Venezuela.  He has also danced with the El Paso Ballet and Tulsa Ballet starting in 2001, and then he joined Sarasota Ballet until his retirement in 2007.  His repertory includes Arlequinada, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Paquita and The Sleeping Beauty, among others. He has danced principal roles in contemporary works such as Carmina Burana, Doble Corchea, Majisimo, Midnight Summer's Dream and Scherezade.  Osmany competed in international competitions in United States, Curazao, Colombia, Italy and won a silver medal in the Cuban Ballet Festival. He joined ABS as ballet faculty in 2007.

Nicte-ha Shier, Costume Designer

Guest Faculty

Giselle Durand, Ballet Peur 

Zhandra Rodriguez

Former Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theater.

Julio Montano

Former dancer of Ballet de Cuba, National Ballet of Peru,Tulsa Ballet. Ballet Master at the Performing Art Center , Tampa .

Roumen Rachev

Former Principal Dancer and Ballet Master of the Sophia Opera in Bulgary. Ballet Master at America ’s Ballet School , Caracas , Venezuela .

Gina Goetchus

Ballet Master, Rehearsal Director and Assistant to the Artistic Director of Ballet Hispánico of New York .

Ileana Lopez and Mary Carmen Catoya