Venezuelan prima ballerina builds a ‘cultural bridge’ to U.S.

By Art Jacobson, Miami's Community Newspapers Online

Keyla Ermecheo once was Venezuela’s prima ballerina.

Keyla Ermecheo, one of Venezuela’s most famous ballerinas, has brought her artistry, expertise and dedication to Doral.

The energetic, effusive pixie stills moves with the grace and charm that made her one of the most celebrated artists in South America. She has taught some of today’s most highly acclaimed ballet stars, including Mara Vivas, Ideal German, Mariana Ramsour, Ramon Thielen and Guillermo Asca. Her students have performed with many of the world’s foremost ballet companies, including those in New York, Harlem, Boston, Berlin, Memphis and West Palm Beach.

Ermecheo, widely known as a choreographer, artistic director and teacher, founded the Keyla Ermecheo School of Ballet in Caracas in 1968. Today, the school operates under the direction of Ivanna Ruscitti, principal dancer of the Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas. Ermecheo also is the founder and artistic director of the Keyla Ermecheo School of Dance & Performing Arts in Doral and has recently become associated with Doral’s Kid’s Village, heading up the performing arts division.

“By establishing a home in Doral and working with the children here, I hope to build a ‘cultural bridge’ between the United States and my homeland,” she said. “I would like the people of Doral to know that I am dedicated to providing the children of this community with the benefits of my education and experience, and that my goal is to contribute as much as I can to dance and the performing arts in South Florida.”

Ermecheo was born in Caracas and graduated from Venezuela’s National School of Ballet. She also studied at the New York School of American Ballet and performed for 15 years.

“My inspiration was the incomparable Margot Fonteyn of the Royal Ballet,” said Ermecheo. “I am also grateful to Felia Dubrosvka, Muriel Stuart and Valentina Pereyaslavec of the American Ballet, plus Hector Zaraspe from the Juilliard School, Inna Zubkovskaya of the Kirov and Maya Samokhalova and Valdimir Lopoukhov of the Bolshoi Ballet for all that they taught me. In the tradition of the ballet, I am returning the favor by devoting my time and efforts to young people.”

Ermecheo has been doing that for 35 years as a choreographer, artistic director and teacher. In 1980, she established the Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas, sponsored by the National Council of Arts and the Venezuelan Congress. She has won awards for her contributions to dance in Venezuela, including the coveted Tamanaco de Oro and two National Artist awards for her productions of the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. She has been presented with Venezuela’s National Council of Arts Award in recognition of her contributions to dance.

As a vice president of the World Dance Alliance, she continues to be a major influence on teachers, performers and dancers all over the world.

“We are fortunate to have an individual of her caliber in our communality,” said Tailleen Arias, president of Kid’s Village Art and Music Studios where Ermecheo teaches 100 youngsters age three to 14.

“I enjoy working with these children,” said Ermecheo. “In addition to dance, we teach them about all of the performing arts, acting, singing and more. They are immersed in all kinds of music, from classical to pop and from Broadway to MTV. The children learn discipline and the importance of dedication, love and perseverance, whether or not they become professionals.

“I also enjoy working with their parents, educating them in the arts and assisting them to understand their role in helping their children to prepare for the future.” Ermecheo has already made a mark on the South Florida arts scene. Her students have performed throughout Miami-Dade in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and at the New World School of the Arts. In June, she will direct 60 children at Florida International University in a performance of The Ballet of the Enchanted Dolls, a program she choreographed. Twenty of the youngsters, called New Kids on Stage, will perform there as an ensemble.

Ermecheo’s most ambitious U.S. project to date is in the planning stages. It will be a full-scale production of the Nutcracker in 2004. “This will be a full production of the entire work, not just the Nutcracker Suite,” she said. “It will involve two acts, four scenes and over 100 performers. We are now looking for sponsors and hope to stage this significant event in one of the area’s principal performance facilities such as the Miami-Dade Auditorium or Gussman Hall.”

People interested in learning more about Ermecheo’s life and career will soon have that opportunity. A book entitled Keyla Ermecheo y su Escuela de Ballet by Belen Lobo is set to be published.

For more information, call 305-463-0984.