Meet the Dancers of Romeo and Juliet la tormenta

Miami, FL

Romeo & Juliet la tormenta is Shakespeare South Florida style! Fast paced drama from The Bard with Afro Cuban Dance, Music and Visual Art. Meet the Dancers:

Dancer Diana Figueroa was born in Miami, Florida and began her dance training at The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet continuing to the New World School of the Arts and graduating from The Harid Conservatory. She received a BFA from Point Park University with a concentration in ballet. After graduation Diana danced with Merztanz Contemporary Ballet, Atlantic City Ballet, Roxey Ballet, and will begin her first season with Dimension Dance Theatre Miami while studying for a Master’s Degree at Florida International University.

Dancer Dayron Parra began his training at Escuela Elemental Alfonso Perez Isaac, "Escuela de Espectaculos Musicales Ruben Martinez Villena", and finally graduated from "Universidad De Las Artes De Cuba" with a major in contemporary dance. From 2009-2013 he began dancing for "Ballet ICRT Cuban TV" dance company. In 2014 he danced for Compañia de Espectáculos A Todo Ritmo. He quickly moved on to dance for "Danza Espiral" and danced for Danza Abierta Dance Company. In 2015 he danced for BanRarra Dance Company, Habana café dance company and kabaret parisien dance company. In 2016 he danced for danza comtemporanea de cuba dance company. He has danced in many music videos with various musicians such as Eduardo Sandoval, Raul Paz, and Tony Avila,dj khaled, Kent Jones Dany ocean. Arrived in the United States has danced for Dancenow dance company, Ballet Dimension Dance Company and New Century Dance Company. He continues to grow as a head instructor of the dance academy of the renowned folkloric group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Dancer Nateanel Leal began his training at Escuela Elemental Alfonso Perez Isaac, "Escuela de Espectaculos Musicales Ruben Martinez Villena", and finally graduated from "Universidad De Las Artes De Cuba" with a major in contemporary dance. From 2009-2013 he began dancing for "Ballet ICRT Cuban TV" dance company. In 2014 he danced for Compañia de Espectáculos A Todo Ritmo. He quickly moved on to dance for "Danza Espiral" and danced for Danza Abierta Dance Company. In 2015 he danced for BanRarra Dance Company, Habana café dance company and kabaret parisien dance company. In 2016 he danced for danza comtemporanea de cuba dance company. He has danced in many music videos with various musicians such as Eduardo Sandoval, Raul Paz, and Tony Avila,dj khaled, Kent Jones Dany ocean. Arrived in the United States has danced for Dancenow dance company, Ballet Dimension Dance Company and New Century Dance Company. He continues to grow as a head instructor of the dance academy of the renowned folkloric group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Dancer Christie Sciturro trained at Juliana's Academy of Dance and The Rock School. At the age of 18 she moved to Miami and attended The Miami City Ballet School, where she then was accepted into the company. She joined the corps de ballet in 2007 and is currently dancing their now. Since she joined she has danced many principle roles including Myrtha, Queen of The Dryads, Hippolita, Rubies Solo Girl, Principle in A Slaughter in Tenth Avenue, 5 Pieces in Episodes, and Arabian in The Nutcracker.

Dancer Jennifer Villaleon in 2012 graduated from the National School of Ballet of Havana and selected for the National Ballet of Cuba directed by Prima Ballerina Alicia Alonso. 2014- Participated in the International Festivals of Ballet of Havana (Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Coppelia, and Romeo and Juliet, among other works). Comtemporary Performance; Impromptu Lecuona and Tiempo De Danzon choreographed by Eduardo Blanco Asfixia de Maysabel Pintado 2014- Performed Nutcracker in Burlington, Canada. Performed under direction of Jose Manuel Carreño, Artistic Director of Silicon Valley Ballet in California, for Miami City Ballet. 2016- Panama cultural exchange in the National Company of Panama imparting classes in the academy of Ballet Pointe. Education: Cathedral of Dance “Alicia Alonso” of the National Ballet of Cuba. 2004-2009 graduate of School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier 2009- 2012- graduate of National School of ballet. Studied for Alicia Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Ramona de Sáa, Loipa Araujo, Aurora Bosch, Julio Bocca, Kevin Mackenzie, Víctor Ullate, Yanis Pikieris, Gloria Barrios, Magaly Suarez, José Manuel Carreño and Lázaro Carreño. Events: 2009 - Participated in the International Competition of Academics of Ballet of Havana receiving Third Place in category and the Adagio award in the female category of the competition. 2010 International Festival of Ballet 2012 & 2014 Ballet International Festival Havana.

Dancer/Choreographer Isanusi Garcia

Isanusi (Isa) Garcia Rodriguez is the son of Johannes Garcia, principle dancer with Conjunto Folkloricle Nacional de Cuba, Director of Cuban Folkloric Company,

and Master/First Dancer of the National Folkloric Group of Cuba and Perla Rodriguez, principle dancer in Danza Contemporania de Cuba. Isa entered the Escuela Nacional de Ballet en 1985, graduated in 1997, and participated in numerous academic courses in Italy and Brazil where he placed first during many competitions.

Isa won first place in a choreographic contest in Santa Clara and Havana with the International Festivals of the Havana Ballet and Escuela Nacional de Ballet. He collaborated in 1993 with Marianela Boan with the Danza Nacional de Cuba for the anniversary show of the 130th birthday of Jose Marti in the Theatre Mella. In 1998, he danced the principle role of 'Espada' in Don Quixote with the National Ballet of Cuba and in 1999 joined the North Carolina Ballet performing as a principle dancer. In 2001, he joined the Miami City Ballet (MCB) as a principle dancer until 2012. With the MCB, Isa danced a riveting 'Tybalt' in 'Romeo and Juliet,' Balanchine's Stravinsky's Violin Concerto and 'Phlegmatic In The 4 Temperaments,' 'Albrecht' in 'Giselle,' Jerome Robbin's 'Fancy Free,' and Cristopher Wheeldon's 'Litergy' among other performances.

In 2013, a devastating aneurysm caused Isa to transition from full time dancer to choreographer and painter. Painting since his youth as a hobby, the newest series of paintings reflect his vast passion for dance, movement and exploring the human spirit. His art was selected for the poster of the XXI International Ballet Festival of Miami in 2016. He's been doing choreography for Grace Arts Center and Cuban Classical Ballet since 2017 and has begun dancing limited engagements with his wife, Christie Sciturro, a company dancer for the Miami City Ballet.

What: The Play Romeo & Juliet La Tormenta

When: Two South Florida Performances: April 27, 2018 & May 4, 2018
Where: NSU Museum Horvitz Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale & Little Haiti Cultural Complex

Details: Official Press Release
Special Fort Lauderdale Performance and Artist Reception (April 27) 7–9PM at NSU Art Museum Norma and William Horvitz Auditorium
Full Performance at Little Haiti Cultural Complex in Miami, Florida (May 4) 7–9PM
Tickets: Available on Eventbrite

General Admission: $20 VIP: $40
For more information or media interviews please contact Clare Vickery /Grace Arts Fl., at (954) 816–3324