Rolando Yanes
Freelance Ballet Teacher, choreographer, and coach
Former director of Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy and MBII
Rolando Yanes is a native of Villa Clara, Cuba. He received training at the Professional School of the Arts and the Vocational School of Ballet in Santa Clara, Cuba. While in Cuba, Mr. Yanes was a principal dancer with Ballet de Camaguey under the direction of Fernando Alonso. In 1995, he was awarded the Silver Medal at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Brasilia, Brazil. Mr. Yanes came to the United States in 1996 as a principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet Company.
Mr. Yanes expanded his diverse classical and contemporary repertoire while at Milwaukee Ballet dancing leading roles in such ballets as Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Nutcracker and Giselle.
His powerful technique and unparalleled partnering skills led to principal roles in La Esmeralda, Spartacus, Troy Game, Who Cares?, Diana and Acteon, and Le Corsaire, as well as major works from leading choreographers like George Balanchine, Choo-San Goh, Robert Joffrey and Kathryn Posin. He has performed with numerous companies such as Ballet Taller de San Juan (Puerto Rico) and in The International Ballet Festivals in Havana, Cuba and Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Mr. Yanes’ became the director of The Nancy Einhorn Milwaukee Ballet II Program in 2001. Since 2004, Mr. Yanes has also been directing Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy.