Our Team
Sport and Dance Academy is dedicated to teaching correct dance technique, theory and terminology for beginning through advanced students of all ages.
The teaching staff at our studio is comprised of vibrant and energetic teachers who are well trained in the field of dance. They understand what it takes to be a good dancer and make it a priority to pass that knowledge on to their students. Our students are our first priority! It is our goal that they receive a positive and excellent dance experience.
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Yanelis Hernandez
Director and Cultural Dance Instructor
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.
GARY Magel
Director and Hip Hop Instructor
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.
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Leila Muniz
Ballet and Tap Instructor
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
Ballet, Contemporary, an Folklore Instructor
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 Martinez (El Indio)
Salsa Instructor
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 Adiari Ballerster Benifez
Zennach Adiari Ballester Benítez 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.
Miguel Vicente Hernandez
Acrobatic Instrctor
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
Maikel Hernandez
Ballet Instructor
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.