Meet Our Leadership Team

The leaders of the Carreño Dance Festival are internationally recognized for their expertise, talent and success in the world of dance.

They will be joined by specially selected master teachers and notable guest artists as they present an inspiring opportunity for young dancers who will: ”LEARN from the STARS  and  DANCE with the STARS.”

José Manuel Carreño – Artistic Director

Performing Artist, Master Teacher, an international superstar of the ballet world, José Manuel Carreño recently retired as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. He was born in Cuba, where he received his training at the Provincial School of Ballet and the National Ballet School.  He won the Gold Medal at the New York International Ballet Competition in 1987 and, in 1990, the Grand Prix at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

Carreño joined the English National Ballet in 1990 and became a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in 1993 before joining the American Ballet Theatre in June of 1995.  He continues to appear extensively in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the United States, dancing principal roles in the full repertory of classic and contemporary works. Dance Magazine, in giving him their award for significant contributions to dance in 2004, said, “José Manuel Carreño brings unequaled gifts to the stage…He has secured his place in ballet’s pantheon with his incredible magnetism and astonishing technique…(He) has shown that he can be passionate, mischievous and gentle, capable of performing with theatrical aplomb and sizzling energy.”

In addition to rave reviews for his performances with American Ballet Theatre, Carreño was critically acclaimed as one of the four original members of “Kings of the Dance.”  The program, featuring four international male dance stars, enjoyed a triumphant ten-city Russian tour with sold-out houses in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It has been expanded to include four additional male dancers for performances in New York and Los Angeles.

Read Jose Carreno’s latest article in WORLD ARTS TODAY

Loipa Araujo – Master Teacher/Past Prima Ballerina National Ballet of Cuba

Loipa Araujo is one of the legendary prima ballerinas of the Cuban National Ballet, performing the entire repertoire of that company worldwide. She is now an international Master Teacher and Coach spending many months each year with Britain’s Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, the Royal Danish Ballet, Ballet Bejart and more. She runs the Classical Ballet Intensive at El Escorial in Madrid, where she now lives, and comes to Sarasota each year for the Carreno Summer Intensive. Her methodology is unique and very intense, based on the National Ballet of Cuba, which allows her to assure her students reach the highest levels of professionalism both as technicians and artists. She works with the most renowned ballet stars of our time.

Robert de Warren – President/CEO

Master Teacher A distinguished ballet director, choreographer, designer and dancer, Robert de Warren’s international career has taken him around the globe. Spending his youthful years in Peron’s Argentina, the former artistic director and chief executive officer of the Sarasota Ballet of Florida began his career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet in London. He became a principal dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet before taking on the position of Director of the National Ballet of Iran under the Shah of Iran for eleven years. At the request of the Shah, he researched all mystic, tribal and ceremonial dances in the country. De Warren  founded the National Folklore Society of Iran and the Mahalli Dancers of Iran, leading the dance troupes on international tours. Over the next decade de Warren nurtured the fledgling Northern Ballet Theatre in Britain, which became the major touring ballet company in the country. During this period his professional relationship with Rudolph Nureyev grew from that of a collaborator to a close personal friendship. It was Nureyev who recommended him for the post of director of ballet at La Scala in Milan, where de Warren remained for seven years prior to his move to the United States to begin his thirteen year leadership role at the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. He has choreographed over seventy-five works and recently published his memoir, Destiny’s Waltz – In Step with Giants.