Virginia Beach Ballet Academy

A Tradition of Excellence.

Enrique Martinez, Founder

Well known as Director, Ballet Master, and Regisseur, Enrique's professional ballet career began with the Alicia Alonso Ballet, now known as National Ballet of Cuba. Enrique performed with the American Ballet Theater for 33 years until 1980, traveling the world to countries such as the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, the Middle East, and Japan.

Enrique was born in Havana, where he received his ballet training; his teachers included Alicia Alonso and Igor Schwezoff. He was offered a contract with American Ballet Theatre after Lucia Chase, director of the troupe, saw him performing with a Cuban company. He joined the New York troupe in 1947 and remained with it until 1980.

Enrique started in the corps de ballet and moved up to soloist before becoming a ballet master, ballet director, and assistant director of American Ballet Theatre.

Enrique was known for a serenity that did not fail him even when tested by the most volatile of ballet stars. In 1968, he created a sunny, good-natured production of ''Coppelia'' and became associated with that ballet.

Enrique choreographed and staged the classics for companies including the National Ballet of Cuba; the Dusseldorf Ballet; troupes associated with La Scala in Milan, Italy, and the opera houses of Rome and Helsinki, Finland; the Milwaukee Ballet, and companies in Atlanta, Denver, Detroit and Norfolk, Va. During the 1980's and early 90's he directed and helped organize ballet companies in Mexico, Rio de Janeiro and Caracas, Venezuela. His most recent productions, created in the late 1990's, were stagings of ''Coppelia'' for the Atlanta Ballet and companies in Canada and France.

Teresa Martinez, Founder

Teresa Martinez established the Virginia Beach Ballet Academy in 1980, but her dancing career began much earlier when she lived in Cuba.

Teresa and her brother, Enrique Martinez, were members of the prestigious National Ballet of Cuba. As a sideline, the pair had a ballroom dancing act as "Sonja e Henry." They drew applause in many of Havana's lively nightclubs.

Teresa was involved in several local dance troupes and other artistic groups, including the Norfolk Civic Ballet, the Tidewater Ballet Association and the Virginia Beach Conservatory of Dance. Many of her students went on to professional companies such as the Joffrey, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.

In 1970, more than a decade after Castro came to power, Teresa's family was allowed to depart. "We left all our possessions," Ana Maria Martinez said. "We never returned to Cuba."

Since an uncle had earlier settled in Norfolk, the group made their home in Hampton Roads. Teresa was quickly hired by the late Gene Hammett, veteran director of the Norfolk Civic Ballet - now the Virginia Ballet Theatre. She was also active in local Hispanic associations and worked beauty pageants staged by Filipino clubs. "She was a great Cuban cook," her daughter said, recalling her specialties: picadillo, arroz con pollo, and black beans and rice.

Norfolk Academy dance master Elbert Watson, a former student, recalled her emphasis on elegance. "She always told us to use our upper bodies to express ourselves in an elegant manner," said Watson, who performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before joining the faculty at Norfolk Academy. "She said the music should come through your pores. You become the music."

Ana Maria Martinez, Artistic Director

Ana Maria Martinez began her ballet training at the age of 6 at the Tidewater Ballet Association, where she studies for the next 10 consecutive years.
 
Ana Maria was accepted to the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre School on full scholarship at the ages of 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
 
At the age of 14, Ana Maria danced the leading role of the full length ballet Copellia, with Eddie Mayer, principal dance of The Pennsylvania Ballet Co.
 
Ana Maria danced Don Quixote's Pas de Deux, and Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux, choreographed by George Balanchine, and other leading roles for different Ballet Companies, and danced with professional companies in Caracas, Venezuela, and Duluth, Minnesota.

Ana Maria is the current Artistic Director and Children's Teacher at the Virginia Beach Ballet Academy.

Rodolfo Martinez, Founder

Rodolfo started as an actor and folkloric dancer in "Compania Juvenil de la Habana," together with his brothers Jose and Enrique and sister Teresa.

After attending the "Academy of Dramatic Arts" in Havana, Rodolfo joined several artistic groups and companies, such as "Grupo ADAD," "University Theatre," "Patronato del Teatro" and others. He participated in the staging of many plays, classic and contemporary theatre, in both experimental and commercial.

In the Hampton Roads area, he worked for Television Producer Elaine Mills in a series of educational tapes for Dunn and Bradstreet and Channel 13. Rodolfo did television commercial work and other performing jobs for CBN, as well as several print works for "Models, Inc."

Rodolfo has produced and emceed many shows for The Spanish-American Club, Harborfest, and other artistic organizations in the Hampton Roads area.

Left: Rodolfo Martinez and Ana Maria Martinez