OUR Mission
West Point Ballet mission is to inspire a passion for learning that motivates and allows the students to achieve their full potential. Our curriculum is based in the the Cuban Ballet Methodology, implemented with a faster and varied approach to continue to develop versatile dancers with bigger chances of becoming professionals, or pursuit dance careers in College.
Through the years, West Point Ballet has earned the reputation of excellence in training, coaching, and full-length professional ballet performances. Presenting productions of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, an original version of The Wizard of Oz, and most recently A Midsummer Night’s Dream, all in addition to the traditional Nutcracker presented every December.
West Point Ballet dancers have been awarded numerous top prizes at International Ballet Competitions, and the school has repeatedly earned the Outstanding Coaches award, Best School Award, and Outstanding Teachers Award. (Youth America Grand Prix; World Ballet Competition; ADC IBC, Universal Ballet Competitions)
Cynthia and damien received
their training at
the National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba.
Our Journey
In 2007, Damien made the life-changing decision to leave the country illegally on a homemade boat to be reunited with his longtime love, Cynthia Castillo, also a Cuban born, graduated from the National Ballet School in Havana, now dancing with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami.
Once Mr. Martinez successfully accomplished his mission and arrived to the United States, the couple continued their careers at the Columbia Classical Ballet, in South Carolina, under the direction of Radenko Pavlovich. They moved further North, and joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under the direction of Terrence Orr.
Pittsburgh always felt like home, and in 2014 Mr. Martinez and Ms. Castillo opened West Point Ballet in Coraopolis, PA. With the main goal of teaching a strong classical ballet technique using their Cuban method, and embracing the new understandings learned during their professional careers in the States.
Today, Mr. Damien holds a Physical Therapist Assistant license, and Ms. Cynthia earned a double major in accounting and business administration.
Fun Facts: Damien is a Marathon runner and Ironman triathlete, and used to be a Homing pigeon flyer. Ms. Cynthia is a professional Dance Photographer, and hates pigeon flying.