Carla Otero

Founder, Choreographer, Instructor and Dancer

Carla Otero began her classical ballet training at the Conservatory of Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico under the tutelage of the Carlota Carrera. As she advanced in her pre-professional training she had the pleasure of working with renowned ballet teachers from Latin America and abroad. As a student, Carla received scholarships to attend the summer intensives at The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet and the 42nd Bartholin International Ballet Seminar of the Royal Danish Ballet (Copenhagen, Denmark). During these summers she trained under the guidance of Fernando Bujones, Laura Alonso and Martin James, among others.

At age sixteen, Carla joined the company of Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico under the guidance of Artistic Director, Lolita San Miguel where she danced in the great classics of Giselle, Swan Lake, La Fille Mal Gardee, Copellia, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker. In addition to her classical repertoire, Carla has danced in numerous modern and contemporary works by Jesus Miranda, Carlos Cabrera, Maria Julia Landa, Alberto Mendez and Kristen Duffy-Young. After being with the company for two years, she decided to move to Boston and pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations at Simmons College. During her time as an undergraduate student, Carla was actively involved as a dancer in the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) Dance Project since it’s inception in 2006, and as a ballet instructor for LEAP (Lifelong Exercise and Activities Program) at Simmons College.

After graduating in 2010, Carla became an instructor for the COF Dance Project and is now the Assistant Director for the program. She has been invited as a guest artist to perform in the premiere of Anastasia and to dance in Bournonville’s Flower Festival in Genzano Pas de Deux with Chambersburg Ballet Theater in Pennsylvania. Carla remains active as a dancer and choreographer and trains throughout the Boston and Cambridge areas. She also is resident ballet instructor for two studios in Massachusetts where her students have won awards at competitions throughout New England. On March 2016, Carla launched her blog series “In the Studio” where she actively publishes articles about dance on her website carlaotero.com. On August 2017, Carla was elected to the executive board of the Massachusetts Dance Education Organization (MaDEO) as treasurer.

With over twenty years of experience in dance and ten years teaching, Carla loves to impart her knowledge for movement to all levels and ages and work closely to develop each individual’s strengths. She specializes in:

• Ballet
• Jazz
• Modern/Contemporary
• Lyrical
• Latin Dance Styles (Salsa, Merengue & Bachata)

Etienne Hernandez

Choreographer, Instructor and Dancer

From San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he began his training at La Escuela Julian E. Blanco and at El Conservatorio de Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico (Where he has also performed with The Company of Ballet Concierto). He continued his studies at El Instituto Superior de Danza Alicia Alonso of The Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, where he graduated with a Masters in Performing Arts. He was a member of El Joven Ballet de la Camara de Madrid for five years, where he has performed throughout Spain.

Subsequently, he has worked with Ballet Brio of Puerto Rico for two years and has guested at The Bolero Dance Theatre of Canada (Winnipeg), The Marion Ballet Theatre (Florida), Proyecto Tercer Espacio de Puerto Rico, Andanza: Contemporary Dance Company in Puerto Rico and at The Western Ballet Theatre of Puerto Rico, he was also a guest artist at the International Dance Gala held by the UNESCO in Madrid, Spain (2006). He has choreographed original works for El Joven Ballet de la Camara de Madrid, Proyecto Tercer Espacio, Ballet Brio and Chambersburg Ballet Theatre.

Etienne has taught at La Escuela Municipal de Bellas Artes de Bayamon, Taller Ballet/Jazz Lilly Castro, both in Puerto Rico and at The Chambersburg Ballet Theatre School in Pennsylvania. He presently resides in Massachusetts where he teaches classical ballet around the Boston and North Shore areas, and is a company member of Forty Steps Dance Company and Danza Organica.