Leonel Linares
Leonel began his dance training in his hometown of Mérida, Venezuela. His studies included Venezuelan folklore, Latin jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, acrobatics, modern, and ballet. He was awarded a scholarship to study with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City from 2004-2006. His professional career includes dancing with Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas under the direction of Zhandra Rodriguez, Ballet Teresa Carreno, Compania Danza Actual under the direction of Macarena Solorzano, and Ballet de Marjorie Flores. Leonel worked as a choreographer for one of Venezuela’s TV networks, VENEVISION, under the production of Joaquin Riviera, performing for many Latin singers, Dancing with the Stars, and for one of the biggest beauty pageant’s Miss Venezuela, and for TV series such as Somos tu y yo. He was invited to dance with Imagen Latina in Los Angeles, the World Salsa Congress, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Revolucion Latina, Morales Dance, Ballet Des Moines, and FJK Dance. Leonel Linares is the Ballet Master of Staten Island Ballet, Founder of La Casa de la Cultura Venezolana en NY, and received his first certification in the Vaganova technique. He has also done commercial work for Latin Artists such as Liz, Rosa López, Diveana, Oscar de Leon, Alejandra Guzmán, Olga Tañón and J Balvin, Executive/Artistic Director of Sol Dance Center.