Claudia Sánchez Alvaré was born in Havana, Cuba, and began her ballet journey at the age of 7. Her talent and dedication quickly stood out, earning her a place at the prestigious Cuban National Ballet School (ENA), where she trained for eight years. Graduating as both a ballet dancer and teacher, Claudia's classical ballet foundation was strong and well-rounded. In 2007, Claudia joined the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, where she spent seven years dancing as a professional ballet dancer. Her impressive repertoire with the National Ballet of Cuba includes iconic works such as Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Theme and Variations, among many others, showcasing her versatility and artistry on stage. In 2014, Claudia moved to Canada, where she continued her professional dance career with both the Victoria Ballet and the Alberta Ballet. However, after retiring from performing, Claudia found her next passion in teaching. She dedicated over five years of her career to teaching at the Alberta Ballet School, working with dancers of all levels. She also collaborated with the YYC Dance Project, where she was in charge of their ballet training and played a crucial role in preparing dancers for competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the Ballet World Competition, and prestigious school auditions, including those for the Juilliard School, the Royal Ballet School, and the Opéra de Paris School. Claudia's teaching excellence was recognized when she received three Best Teacher awards at the 4th World Ballet Art Competition Grand Prix Semi-Finals in Calgary and Finals in Niagara Falls, both in 2007. When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the dance community, Claudia saw an opportunity to support dancers worldwide and launched "Learning Ballet with Claudia." This platform offers one-on-one ballet coaching, focusing on improving technique, preparing for competitions, auditions, and exams. Claudia continues to inspire dancers of all ages and levels, offering both online and in-person master classes to help them reach their full potential.

Recently, Claudia introduced a new resource for dancers—a Dance Journal, available at City Dancewear , Amazon and her website Learning Ballet with Claudia. The journal helps dancers track their progress, set goals, and record corrections and feedback from teachers. One of Claudia's proudest accomplishments as a teacher is seeing her students succeed. Notably, one of her students received a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York, and another was awarded a scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre School. She is also honored to have been one of the teachers of Tate McRae, a renowned dancer and artist, further affirming her legacy in the dance world. Today, Claudia remains passionately committed to her mission of helping dancers improve and achieve their dreams, fueled by her love for ballet and teaching.

Claudia Sanchez

Teacher