Artist in Residence (AIR)

Artist in Residence
YANDY ÁLVAREZ
Yandy is originally from Pinar del Río, Cuba. He started his studies there at the age of 9 and then joined the prestigious Fernando Alonso school. Yandy graduated in 2018 and entered the National Ballet of Cuba. He performed in the Fille del Danubio premiere in Cuba by choreographer Alberto Méndez and recognized works of choreographer Rara Avis, Study for 4. He was a soloist and corps de ballet in classics such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Coppélia, Giselle, Carmen, Don Quixote; Pas de deux Festival of Flowers. Contemporary and neoclassical works include Prospera, Celeste, Apparatus, and the beautiful Cuban work, Concerto. Yandy has worked with great national and international teachers and choreographers including: Ramona de Saa, Aurora Bosch, Loipa Araujo, Katherine Zuasnabar, Julio Arrozarena, Julio Boca, Manuel Carreño, Ben Stevenson, Ricardo Amarante, Alberto Mendez, Susana Pous, Johan Kobborg. He has been on international trips with the Company to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and the Arab Emirates. In 2024, he arrived in Miami and danced with the Cuban Classical Ballet Academy of Miami’s Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote.

Artist in Residence
MELANIE LEYVA DE ARMAS
Melanie is originally from Cuba. She trained at the Cuban National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba. She graduated from the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School with a degree in dance as a Dancer and Ballet Teacher. She trained under Ramona de Saa, Fernando Alonso, Aurora Bosch, and Loipa Araujo. She received additional training under the incredible Julio Boca, Katherine Zuasnabar, Julio Arozarena, Joel Carreño, and Jose Manuel Careño. Her artistic performances include the classic repertoires such as, Giselle, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Carmen, Don Quixote, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Paquita, and The Sleeping Beauty. Melanie joined the National Ballet of Cuba in 2018 and danced until February 2024 where she danced major roles such as Clara in The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Swan Lake, Carmen, Seventh Symphony, Flower Festival of Genzano, and many others. She has traveled internationally with the National Ballet of Cuba to the United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Artist in Residence
VICTOR MANUEL ALVAREZ CUENCA
Victor is originally from Cuba where he trained at the Cuban National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba from 2012 to 2021. He graduated from the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School with a degree in dance as a Dancer and Ballet Teacher. He trained under Ramona de Saa, Fernando Alonso, Aurora Bosch, and Loipa Araujo. He has also received more training under the incredible Julio Boca, Katherine Zuasnabar, Julio Arozarena, Joel Carreño, and Jose Manuel Careño. Victor joined the National Ballet of Cuba in 2021 and danced until February 2024. He danced major roles in The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Swan Lake, and Carmen. He has worked with world renowned choreographers such as Ben Stevenson and Radmasky. Victor has traveled internationally with the National Ballet of Cuba to the United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Artist in Residence
JEAN MARCO SANZ MARTINEZ
Jean is originally from Cuba where he trained at the Cuban National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba where he trained from 2015 until his graduation in 2023. He graduated with a Degree in dance as a Dancer / Ballet Teacher at Fernando Alonso National Ballet School. He trained under Ramona de Saa, Fernando Alonso, Aurora Bosch & Loipa Araujo. He has also received more training under the incredible Julio Boca, Katherine Zuasnabar, Julio Arozarena, Joel Carreño and Jose Manuel Careño. Jean joined the National Ballet of Cuba in 2023 and danced until February 2024 where he danced major roles in Dionaea and he completed some other Grand ballets such as Coppélia, Swan Lake, and Carmen. He has worked with well renown choreographers such a Ben Stevenson, Ratmansky, Anabelle Lopez de Ochoa, Ricardo Amarante, and Johan Kobborg. Jean Marco has traveled internationally with the National Ballet of Cuba to the Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and United States of America where he had the opportunity to perform Ratmansky’s Swan Lake with Miami City Ballet.