Welcome to Sport and Dance Academy
Learn, Move, and Perform
At Sport and Dance Academy, we are passionate about nurturing talent and inspiring our students to achieve their full potential. Our academy provides a supportive and creative environment where individuals of all ages can explore the exciting worlds of dance. We are dedicated to offering high-quality training programs that cater to beginners as well as experienced enthusiasts. Our team of experienced instructors is committed to helping each student develop their skills and confidence, ensuring a rewarding and enjoyable learning experience.
Meet Our Expert Instructors
Our team of expert instructors is at the heart of Sport and Dance Academy. Each member brings a wealth of experience and passion for their craft, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment. Whether you're interested in perfecting your dance technique or honing your athletic abilities, our instructors are here to guide and inspire you every step of the way. Get to know the talented professionals who make our academy a vibrant hub for creativity and skill development.
Gary "@hitwiz" Magel
Director
Hip Hop
Gary is an award-winning choreographer and has spent most of his life as an artist and choreographer. Among many other styles of dance, he teaches a variation of hip-hop that can only be found in certain parts of Georgia, where he grew up. The strength, endurance, and power of hip-hop are the same qualities that he tries to instill in his students in each and every class.
Gary is one of the founders of Sport and Dance Academy and is passionate about promoting growth in his students, both physically and mentally. His groups have won several nation competitions and many accolades throughout South Florida.
Yanelis Hernandez
Director
Cultural Dance
Yanelis is an award-winning choreographer with over twenty-five years of experience. Rooted in Ballet, Yanelis has taken her knowledge, technique, and form and has applied it to the style of dance she loves most, Cuban cultural dance. From Mambo to Rumba and everything in between, she has been perfecting her craft since the age of 9. She has spent her life studying, performing, and teaching in both Cuba and the United States.
In 2010, she opened Sport and Dance Studio Center, an after school program that has dance at it’s core. Several years later Sport and Dance Academy was created to provide a deeper, more expansive dance education to her beloved students.
Leila Muniz
Ballet Technique | Lyrical
Leila was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and stated dancing at the young age of seven years old. She graduated in 1986 with a Masters in Ballet (Technique & Choreography) and has also studying and teaches Jazz, Contemporary and Modern Musical Theater for over 35 years. She has a passion in working with young children at a young age.
Leila has worked as a choreographer for Disney World, many other professional productions and competitions has been entertaining audience in more than 18 countries throughout Europe, Asia and South America.
Andres Ascanio Perez
Contemporary
Andres Ascanio Perez graduated from the National School of Dance. After graduating he became part of the cast of dancers of the National Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba in which he is trained in Ballet Limonero, Graham, Cunningham, folklore, Cuban technique and Classic techniques. I became the company's first dancer at the age of 23. I have been part of the cast of dancers of Danza Abierta (now my company), Revolution Ballet, Malpaso and Other Side Company in which I have participated in renowned tours and events in Mexico, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, England, Scotland, United States. United States, Russia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates with works by important choreographers
Luis "El Indio" Martinez
Folkore
With thirty five years of dance instruction and choreographic production, he has directed workshops, festivals and shows in Cuba, Mexico and the USA. His expentive knowledge of Afro-caba popular dances and Franco-Haitian folkore stand outs. He has been a chorographer and dancer for important Latin stars such as Celia Cruz, Gloria Stefan and Alberto Santa Rosa. His work is introducing and desseminating Casino dance in Mexico and teaching Afro-Antillian dance and Cuban salsa in several Mexican universities endorses his vocation for uplifting the youngest talents.
Zennach Ballester
Ballet
Zennach is a graduate of the Cuban Alejo Carpentier Ballet School. During her career in the arts, she was a member of some of the best companies in Cuba such as the Ballet de Cuban Television, Habana Night, and Tony Menéndez. She rose to the rank of 1st dancer and participated in various national and international shows. After retiring from the stage, she pursued a bachelor's degree in art education, which she received with a Gold Degree as a student. She is the creator of the dance project Sueños Clásicos, which has produced many dancers who are now part of the dance sector of Cuba's art schools and companies.
Maikel Hernandez
Ballet | Jumps & Turns
Maikel began dancing at the at of 9at the "Alejo Carpentier" School of Ballet in Havana Cuba. In 2000, he continues his studies and training at the National School of Ballet in Havana. In 2003, he joined the National Ballet of Cuba where he rose from Corps de Ballet to Soloist in 2014, performing important roles in great classics such as Friends in Giselle, Buffon and Neapolitan in Swan Lake, Sancho Panzo in Don Quixote, Carabosse's Page in the Sleeping Beauty, Waldemar in Cinderella, Saltimbaquis in Shakespeare and His Marks and Beaux, and tje Rat King and Russian in the Nutcracker, for which he received critical recognition. He received technical and artistic training support from renowned instructor such as Loipa Araujo, Josefina Mendez, Aurora Bosch, Svetlana Ballester and Lazaro Carreno.
Maikel performed for international choreographers such as James Kelly's Symphony of Nine Men and the world premiere of "Throughout you Eyes: during the 20th edition of the International Ballet Festival of Havana in 2006.
Vicente Hernandez
Acrobatics
Gymnast for 8 years, passed the ENG, national school of Gymnastics, then I went to the ESPA, pre youth national team. Participating in international tournaments inside and outside Cuba. Creator of the physical preparation program for the Cuban ballet school. Scientific papers in national and international congresses. I worked in Brazil for 12 years as a trainer and rehabilitator of dancers. In USA work done, intensive course in Connecticut, New Orleans, Pennsylvania. Mexico City and Monterrey
