New Ballet School in Wheaton
Owners Guillermo Leyva and Vilma Machin have designed four programs that include five levels of Ballet training. The Children's program for instance starts with 2 years of age and can go until the child reaches 6 years old. The elementary program continues on with 7 to 10 years of age and includes 2 levels. Once a student wishes to commit to a more intense and demanding program they can enter the Youth which also has two levels or Pre-Professional program that has one level. A student will be placed in the program and level that is appropriate based on a complimentary class that he/she attends.
Guillermo Leyva trained at the Professional school of Arts in Camaguey, Cuba. After he graduated Guillermo began dancing professionally at the Ballet de Camaguey under Fernando Alonso. He danced with this company for 11 years as a Principal dancer. Later he danced with The Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico, under the direction of Ann Marie D' Angelo, Fernando Alonso, and Fernando Bujones. He also danced as a Principal dancer for the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Lexington Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago , and the Royal de Wallonie in Belgium.
Vilma Machin was born in La Havana, Cuba. She started her training at the age of nine at the National Ballet School of Cuba. Vilma graduated in 2001 at the top of her class as both Dancer and Teacher. She then joined the National Ballet Company under the direction of Alicia Alonso where she then toured Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Later she traveled to the United States where she danced with the Miami Classical Ballet company as a soloist. After leaving the Miami Classical Ballet Company she joined the Alma Dance Company as a Principal dancer.
As teachers, Guillermo and Vilma are committed to pass on their knowledge and experiences to new generations and provide young students with the opportunity to perform and to discover new ways to express their dreams through movement, and develop the artistic awareness of these young individuals.
Come and join us in the next term which will begin October 27th. We have morning classes available besides the afternoon program. We are currently offering classes for home schooled students and /or college students available during the day that wish to take their ballet training to the next level. We encourage you to visit the training facility at 246 East Geneva Road in Wheaton. You can contact us by calling 630-580-9784, or email info.almadanceschool@gmail.com. "Come and try a complimentary day of classes, says owner Vilma Machin.