Sarita Leyva
Toronto's most authentic Cuban dance lessons!
Salsa, Son, Casino Rueda, Afro-Cuban, Cuban Cabaret
Sarita Leyva is a renowned contemporary folkloric and popular dancer, educator and choreographer.
Sarita began her dance career at the age of 7 at the Vocational School of Art Raúl Gómez García in Holguín, Cuba, in the specialty of Classical Ballet, where she finished her studies until the 5th year of Ballet and obtained her diploma of elementary level, then she continued her studies of medium-superior level at the Professional School of Arts "El Yarey" for one year and a half and subsequently she moved to Havana to complete her studies at the Escuela Nacional de Instructores de Arte, ENIA, obtaining her diploma as Professor- Instructor of Dance in 1987.
After her graduation, while living in Cuba Sarita maintained a very active career as a choreographer-dancer and dance teacher, working in many institutions, dance groups and companies such as Grupo Omó Olorun, Grupo Oriki de La Casa de Africa in Old Havana, Compañía de Danza Pinos Nuevos just to mention a few, as well as she was a teacher of contemporary dance technique and Classical Ballet at the Paulita Concepcion Vocational School of Arts in Havana.
She moved to Toronto in 1997 and taught at Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto's Spanish Centre as well as internationally, and is Toronto’s most sought-out Cuban dance teacher, having established a solid roster of students over the past twenty five years.
Presently, Sarita is the Artistic Director of Iré Omó Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble and School first dancer of Iyá Iré Afro-Cuban Ensemble she also works as a dance instructor at Lula Lounge, Araguacu Latin Dance Company and offers private instruction. Sarita is also on the teaching staff at the faculty of School of The Arts,Media & Design at York University teaching Cuban dance and Salsa and Related forms of Latin Dance.