Men’s Ballet Technique, Men’s Variations, Pas de Deux (Partnering), Cross Training/Strengthening for Male Identifying Dancers (ages 10+ for all but partnering work which age requirement is at the discretion of DeCruz Directors.

DeCruz Ballet co-director, Karel Cruz is from Holguin, Cuba, where he received his training at Cuba’s Escuela Nacional de Artes. He joined Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1996 and left in 1998 to join Ballet Clasico de Camara in Venezuela. From 1999 to 2000, he danced with Teatro Teresa Carreno, also in Venezuela.

After coming to the United States, Mr. Cruz spent a year at the Rock School joining Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2002. He was promoted to soloist in 2007 and principal in 2009. In 2013, Mr. Cruz performed as a guest artist with Royal New Zealand Ballet. Mr. Cruz retired from Pacific Northwest Ballet in July 2018. He joined The University of Oklahoma as a ballet instructor for the dance department in 2019.

Mr. Cruz has taught master classes, workshops and privates for over 20 years, creating small group summer course and winter workshops with Ms Dec. He is PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) certified. Mr. Cruz is currently co-director of DeCruz Ballet and will be an instructor at our 2024 DeCruz & Fraiz England Intensive.

We are so excited to be offering PAS DE DEUX partnering classes this summer at our Advanced Summer Intensive and in our DeCruz & Fraiz Intensive!!

Partnering is such an important element in training to become professional dancers. DeCruz codirector and former principal dancer with @pacificnorthwestballet Karel Cruz’s Cuban foundation along with his background dancing numerous full lengths and pas, lends to his expertise in partnering instruction. 🩰

We are excited to start offering classes geared towards male identifying dancers of ages 10-20. As we get more interest, we will add these classes to the schedule. If you are interested or have an interested dancer at home (no experience necessary), please contact us at decruzballet@gmail.com or call (210)762-3203.