World-Renowned Dancers Prepare Students For Dance Futures

The Cuban-born couple, both past principal dancers and current guest artists in several major ballet companies throughout the world, have also always been educators, teaching master classes, and judging competitions, dance festivals, and more.

"Both of us have always had a huge passion for teaching, we just decided to do it a little sooner, not wait until we retired," said Almeida, the Hollywood Ballet Academy's Assistant Director. "So we're running the school, running the business, teaching all day, still traveling and performing, being a family, and we're very happy and really grateful."

The Hollywood Ballet Academy, Almeida pointed out, is more than a typical ballet school. It is a training ground and springboard for future professional dancers.

"Our program is mostly focused on teaching classical ballet to pre-professionals, and every single class is designed to enrich that; it's a very complete, progressive technique," she explained. "We are a school for the pre-professionals during the day, the kids who are home-schooled and really focused on dance. They come in and train and dance all day, then go home and do their regular schoolwork."

The Hollywood Ballet Academy is open to students of all ages, starting with a Mommy & Me class for ages 1 to 3 ($50/month); and creative movement and Pre-Ballet for ages 3 to 5 ($100/month). Other afterschool ($300-500/month) and evening classes are also available. During the day, the focus is on the pre-professional program ($1000/month). At the end of each term, the students perform at a local theater.

Throughout their dance training, students are also coached in auditioning and interviewing for dance companies and universities with good dance programs.

"Right now, we have our first students accepted into three American ballet companies," Almeida smiled proudly.

After choosing Downtown Hollywood for the Hollywood Ballet Academy because of its central location and lack of competing professional studios, they soon realized that they really like it here, and so they became Hollywood residents too!

"One of the things we love about Hollywood is that it does so many things to support the arts," Almeida declared. "At the third Saturday Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk, for example, you see the people and they’re so happy to be there, they appreciate it, they participate. We're excited to be participating in the event."

As educators, the owners of the Hollywood Ballet Academy are pleased to have enjoyed much success, with multiple awards and especially with student placements, in the short time they have been open.

"Ballet is a profession that is difficult. It requires such a level of concentration, dedication, and commitment," Almeida believes, "that even if they don't make it as dancers, or decide not to pursue it, this training really prepares them for life, whatever they decide to do."

For additional information about the Hollywood Ballet Academy, please call: (954) 842-3499. Or visit: www.hollywoodballetacademy.com - Or Instagram: @hollywoodballetacademy.

Downtown Hollywood offers on-street metered parking for $1.50 per hour, as well as municipal garage parking for $1 per hour at 251 South 20th Avenue (between Harrison Street and Van Buren Street). In addition, a $10 flat rate public valet station, located at 1925 Hollywood Boulevard, is open Thursday to Sunday, from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

For more information about redevelopment projects, businesses, new investment, and streetscape improvements in Hollywood's Downtown and Beach Districts, call the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at: (954) 924-2980. Or visit: www.HollywoodCRA.org