Luis Abella
Founder/Executive Director
Luis was born in Cuba and began studying ballet in 1983 with many of the best ballet Masters of the country. While in Cuba he studied the methodology and history of classical ballet. He graduated from the National School of Ballet in Havana, Cuba in 1991. Luis has performed all over the world as a Principal Dancer and soloist with many renowned ballet companies including the National Ballet of Cuba, under the direction of Alicia Alonso, Bellas Artes Nacional of Mexico, the Minnesota Ballet, and the University of Miami Ballet, under director Rosario Suarez. Luis is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 & partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Currently, Luis resides in St. Augustine, FL where he opened St. Augustine Ballet (formerly Abella’s School of Ballet), a pre-professional ballet school.
Virginie Woodward
Costume Design & Construction
Ms. Virginie is a French native, born in Paris, where she received a Master’s Degree in American Civilization from La Sorbonne. She moved to Florida in 1999 to pursue a graduate degree at Florida State University. She learned to sew from her grandmother and has always loved ballet. She has been making ballet costumes since 2010. She currently teaches French at UNF.
