Co-Founder of the Over the years in business, we’ve never forgotten Wilmian Hernández Sarasota Cuban School there’s a person behind your portfolio. Call us so we can help manage your financial goals. 941-330-9260 Amanda E. Stiff, MBA Financial Advisor

pril 2020 seems so far also stopped dancing due to injuries. away. It was then that the Their family includes a son, Francisco, Sarasota Cuban Ballet age 24, who studied with his parents and is a School’s pre-professional rising star in London with . AccessAdvisorsLLC.com 941 330 9260 1800 Second Street Suite 895 Sarasota, FL 34236 dancers won top hon- He’s in his third year in their [email protected] 1305 Langhorne Road Lynchburg, VA 24503 ors at Youth America at that esteemed company. Their daughter Security and Advisory services offered through Harbor Financial Services, LLC Member FINRA/SIPC clearing through Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Access Advisors, LLC is not an affiliate nor subsidiary of Grand Prix (YAGP) competitions in Salt Lake Camila, age 20, is also a dancer and has had Harbor Financial Services, LLC. City, Denver, Indianapolis, and Toronto. to put her career on hold since auditions are But April 2020 also had Covid-19 with not taking place. She helps out at the school. 200,000 cases and 4,076 deaths early in Ballet is a precise and demanding art- the month. By late April the U.S. had over form and thus as a teacher Wilmian ex- one million cases and more than 57,000 plains she is strict in her classes, but more deaths as a result of the pandemic. relaxed when working individually. By con- Thus, like so many arts organizations trast, having attended the prestigious Ballet as well as businesses, the Sarasota Cuban Nacional School in (still considered FREE LIVING WILL Ballet School (SCBS) had to shut down and one of the best schools in the world), she WITH EVERY ESTATE PLAN regroup. At SCBS they teach boys and girls says firmly, “In Cuba, you don’t relax. Ballet from ages 3-23 and many parents (especial- is hard, harder than sports. They [her stu- $ ly those of the youngest ones), not knowing dents] need to be focused.” But it’s not strict Simple Will ...... 110 what to do simply removed their children for strictness sake. Teaching precisely and Revocable Living Trust: from classes. Then SCBS had to cancel their firmly also prevents injuries. Single ...... $595 four scheduled performances. She has a good relationship with her stu- $ Now, months later, older students still dents and sees them more like family. Many Married ...... 1,050 attend, but overall, the school that had are from around the USA and the world and Power of Attorney ...... $95 80-90 students year round, now has 40-45. are adjusting to a different culture. “Some- $ According to Wilmian, the students age 11 times I’m like a mother,” she explains. Health Care Surrogate ...... 85 and up are the ones taking classes and the The school has achieved success in that No additional costs required other than filing fees if applicable. school has put in place rigorous practices students have joined companies like the Dana Laganella like masks and extensive cleaning—the in England, Mil- Gerling, Esq. barre, the studios and bathrooms — but waukee Ballet, Ballet San Antonio and the also limiting class to just 10 students. Sarasota Ballet. Older students can rent Offices: Bradenton/ Zoom has proven to be only a so-so way their own apartment or can stay in the Lakewood Ranch to teach with mixed results. Ballet instruc- housing that the school offers and they’re www.gerlinglawgroup.com 756-6600 tion requires a teacher and a student to transported to class by Wilmian’s sister. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, have close contact: adjusting the body or an Students at the school may or may not ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. arm for proper technique. And visualize a have aspirations for a career in ballet. Ca- class of 3-5 year olds all online and you can reer-oriented dancers—pre-professionals as imagine the challenge. they’re called—attend classes and train ev- As for so many arts organization in our ery day, often for four to five hours. The other area, it’s sad to see what was a great start students come in less frequently. The school to 2020 come to a painful, near full stop. has three other teachers who, as Wilmian Sad for SCBS because the students that did says happen to be Cuban, but adds that you so well at those YAGP competitions were don’t have to be Cuban to teach at SCBS. denied going to the International Compe- So what is Cuban Ballet, anyway? She tition in New York where ballet companies starts by stating that “technique is tech- attend to spot talent for their companies. nique whether it’s Russian or English,” and On the day of this interview, Wilmian explains, “It’s the way that we dance that’s was preparing to teach a class. Ariel Ser- different.” For example in turns - the pir- rano, her husband, fellow dancer, and ouette - the goal is to stay “in balance” and co-founder of SCBS, will be teaching a dif- she adds, “we turn a lot.” In the Cuban style, pril 2020 seems so far away. ferent class. The couple were born in Cuba “we increase the difficulty of the classes.” and danced there professionally for ten Put simply, she adds a metaphor: “Cuban years. They met at Ballet Camagüey which dance is like a flavor you add to dance.” It was then that the Sarasota was under the direction of Fernando Alon- Put another way, if you’ve ever seen José so, who had danced with American Ballet Manuel Carreño, a former principal dancer Cuban Ballet School’s pre- Theater and with his wife with the , Royal Bal- professional dancers won top honors co-founded the National Ballet of Cuba. let and , dance, you A They were on tour in and on the get the idea easily. day they were set to return to Cuba, Ariel For now, it’s training the future stars of at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) received an invitation from Anne Marie ballet at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. DeAngelo, artistic director of Mexico’s They offer a variety of opportunities for all competitions in Salt Lake City, Denver, Ballet de Monterrey. Just married a few ages interested in this beautiful artform: months, they parted. after-school study for students in elementary Indianapolis, and Toronto. “I had to go back to Cuba to dance with the school includes study time along with home- Cuban National Ballet. Ariel said he would work help, as well as daily dance classes. send for me. We had to wait six months Children’s classes for various ages such as But, like so many arts organizations, wondering if it would happen. Eventually, ages 3-10 learn movement, self-expression, we found a way for me to return to Mexico and creativity. Later, they’re introduced to the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School had where we had an opportunity to dance Swan ballet, modern dance and acrobatics. Want West Coast Woman delivered free? Lake choreographed by Fernando Bujoñes. Ages 10 and older learn ballet technique, Subscribe to shut down and regroup when the But our dream was to go the U.S. so we went advance to pointe, and increase their rep- to our Subscribe to the U.S. Embassy and asked for asylum. ertoire. Pre-professionals ages 12 and older pandemic grew rapidly. They gave us a six months visa. We left with are interested in a serious dance program e-magazine for very little and moved to Miami. We danced with the possibility of a dance career. Fi- and WCW will in the Miami area doing some school shows nally, adult classes are for those who have be in your in-box FREE! They’re cautiously and safely back to and some guesting.We were in Miami for always wanted to take ballet or learn con- every month. six months. We didn’t speak the language. temporary dance, or are returning after a Turn pages, teaching boys and girls from ages 3-23. We were desperate and scared. Then one of hiatus, or are former dancers who want to our friends told us about the Sarasota Ballet take classes. Adult students are usually be- click through The goal is to train aspiring dancers holding auditions in Boca Raton. We audi- tween 20 and older than 80 years old. ads —all at the tioned for the company’s founder, Jean Weid- Wilmian’s face and voice express hope convenience for major ballet companies as Wilmian, ner Goldstein. We were offered contracts and that maybe things will change for the better of your laptop, joined the company in 1994,” (also the same in January, “We’re taking it day by day.” desktop, and her husband and co-founder Ariel year the company signed Robert deWarren For more information, visit srqcuban- as its artistic director). ballet.com or call 941-365-8400. Consider smart phone Wilmian took time off to have children a donation that will sustain these talented or tablet and Serrano, have done since 2012. and danced as a guest artist with various teachers as they guide students in the art no leaving companies. When she had her daughter, and beauty of Cuban Ballet. home. she decided to retired from dancing and started teaching. Ariel suggested they open  STORY: Louise Bruderle a school and they did so in 2012. He had  IMAGES: Evelyn England Email us at [email protected]

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