Led by former professional dancers Vilma Machin and Guillermo Leyva, Alma Dance School welcomes enthusiastic students who wish to explore dance as a career or simply enjoy dancing as a hobby.
We offer each student a unique, focused and highly sought-after method of ballet training, based on the principles of the Cuban method of ballet.
Whether your child wishes to dance for pure enjoyment or has their eye on a career in dance, their dreams are important to the teachers at Alma Dance School.
The Cuban method has changed the face of ballet with its superb technique and impeccable footwork. It is organic, extraverted, and highly expressive.
It is a style and artistry which truly incorporates the aesthetic tastes and roots of Cuban culture within its very structure.
Cuban trained dancers and students of the Cuban method are sought throughout the world and achieve marquee status with prominent ballet companies internationally.
Alma Dance School is a performing school; students of all levels dance with professionals during their two highly acclaimed, professionally-produced annual shows: The Nutcracker and Simply Classic Series.
Alma Dance School is deeply committed to its support and partnership with a special-needs community and has been celebrated for its commitment to expression through dance.
To offer the highest quality dance training to every student, preparing the mind and body for life.
“Our mission is to provide professional and recreational dance instruction through high-quality training, performance opportunities and infusion of our core values, in a safe high-quality studio environment”.
Our values are clear to us and include the following:
She started her training at age of nine at the National Ballet School where she had 8 years of training. She graduated in 2001 at the top of her class as a dancer and she also received a diploma in ballet pedagogy in the Cuban method of ballet.
Guillermo Leyva trained at the Professional School of Arts in Camaguey, Cuba. After graduating he began dancing professionally at the Ballet de Camaguey under Fernando Alonso direction. He joined this company for 11 years as a principal dancer where he danced several classic roles.
Over the past 15 years of teaching Katrina has taught and choreographed for numerous ballet schools, studios, companies and park districts throughout the Chicagoland area, as well as lead several volunteer performances.
Jenna began her ballet training at three years old after seeing a performance of American Ballet Theater’s Swan Lake. During her years of training pre-professional, Jenna gained experience teaching ballet and pre-pointe.
She is a dancer, teaching artist, and choreographer from the Chicago area. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University in May 2021.
