Elizabeth Acuña-Nuevo: Director of Artistic Dance Center

Elizabeth Acuña-Nuevo began her ballet training at the young age of three. At fifteen, she continued her training with Susana Prieto. In 1988, she had the honor of performing along side Rudolph Nureyev, who appeared as a guest artist in the full-length production of Giselle. Mrs. Nuevo has also had the privilege of working with world-renown dancers including Wes Chapman, Roger Van Fleteren and John Gardner, all formerly of American Ballet Theatre, and Dimitri Roudnev, formerly of the Bolshoi Ballet.

In her years as a dancer, Mrs. Nuevo has performed many classical, as well as contemporary works, such as the Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle, Bluebird Pas de Deux and variations from Sleeping Beauty, Grisi and Cerito from Pas DeQuatre, Maria in West Side Story, Clara and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, and many others.

Ms. Nuevo has been teaching since the young age of fifteen. At age eighteen, she became Assistant Director of a prominent ballet school in Miami and held this position for ten years. In 2002, she opened the doors to Artistic Dance Center where she has had many triumphs. She has dedicated herself to training students in classical ballet and has coached students for many national competitions such as the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi and Youth America Grand Prix, where many of her students have won the highest honors. In addition, Mrs.Nuevo has also been invited as a guest instructor for various local and touring companies.

Many of Mrs.Nuevo's former students have successfully pursued careers in dance. She is currently Director of Artistic Dance Center and Artistic Dance Theater, a nonprofit dance company. She has staged the full-length Nutcracker for Artistic Dance Theater as well as other classical and contemporary works for the company and school performances.