Our Team

  Angel de Armas Salabert is the Co-Founder/Owner and Artistic Director of STARS Dance Academy  and STARS Dance Studio, where he leads with passion, creativity, and a deep commitment to excellence in dance education. With years of experience as a choreographer, teacher, and mentor, Angel has built a reputation for developing strong, versatile dancers who perform with both technical precision and emotional depth.  

Miami-based choreographer, instructor, and artistic director known for his passion, precision, and creative vision in dance education and performance. As a co-founder and director of STARS Dance Academy and STARS Dance Studio, Angel has dedicated his career to cultivating young talent and inspiring excellence both on stage and in the classroom.

  Under his direction, STARS Dance Studio has become known for its inspiring choreography, innovative training, and positive learning environment. Angel believes in nurturing each student’s unique potential—encouraging discipline, confidence, and artistry both on and off the stage.

Dedicated to helping dancers reach their full potential, Angel continues to guide the next generation of performers.

 Victor Smalley is the Co-Founder/Owner and Artistic Director of STARS Dance Academy and STARS Dance Studio. Born and raised in Miami, Victor discovered his passion for dance at the age of 14, inspired by his mother. He began as a liturgical dancer, and his love for movement soon led him to train in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance.

In 2005, Victor performed with the Friends of Time Dance Company in Dallas, an experience that marked the beginning of his professional dance career. He gained national recognition as a finalist on season six of the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance, where he had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers including Mia Michaels, Sonya Tayeh, Tyce DiOrio, Travis Wall, and Stacey Tookey. Victor often credits Mia Michaels as one of his greatest inspirations, saying she “changed his life.”

Today, Victor is highly respected in the dance community for his powerful  contemporary choreography. His routines have received top honors at both regional and national competitions, and his creative vision continues to shape the success of STARS Dance Studio.

Dedicated to his students, Victor devotes his time and energy to nurturing their growth as dancers and artists—instilling in them the same passion, discipline, and love for dance that have defined his own career.

Born in Aruba and raised in Venezuela, Mayra has lived in Miami for 45 years. She started dancing at the age of two-and-a-half and continued until she was 29-years-old. Mayra performed Classical Ballet, Jazz and Folklore. Originally, she studied dance in Venezuela at the Nina Novak Ballet academy with Maestro Vicente Abad and at the Tempo dance studio. In Miami, Mayra took classes at Joe Michaels and Ballet Concerto.

In 2007, Victor Smalley and Angel DeArmas Salabert opened Stars Dance Studio in Miami. Victor’s mother Mayra Smalley was also there from the very beginning serving as the studio’s director and makeup artist to the dancers. From the start the team upholds their motto, “Turning Kids into Dancers and Dancers into Stars.” The Stars studio continues to be an award-winning studio and they are proud to be known as a “home away from home” to their dancers, offering a wide range of classes in a state-of-the-art-facility.

Although she has taught hundreds of students over the years, at Stars Dance Studio she no longer teaches, but holds the official titles of “Studio Director,” “Office Manager” and “Makeup Artist” for the dancers.

 Leydis began her ballet training at the age of six, graduating from the prestigious National Ballet School of Cuba and the University of the Arts in Havana. She danced professionally in classical ballet until the age of 26, performing on renowned stages across Cuba, the United States, Europe, and South America.

With over 15 years of teaching experience, Leydis currently directs the Ballet Department at STARS Dance Studio, where she has the privilege of training dancers for some of the most prestigious dance competitions, TV shows, and more. She has also shared her expertise as a guest instructor at dance conventions and in over 30 studios throughout the United States and Canada.

Leydis’s coaching focuses on preparing dancers for major ballet competitions, with a proven track record of helping students achieve top placements, including the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), UBC, and The Dance Awards, where her dancers have earned numerous awards and recognitions. Additionally, she has extensive experience training dancers of all levels in ballet technique, providing a solid foundation for successful professional careers.

She is certified in the Cuban Ballet Technique, Vaganova Method, and Progressive Ballet Technique, all of which inform her approach to building strong technical foundations.

Leydis’s passion for teaching is matched by her commitment to helping dancers reach their fullest potential, whether they are preparing for prestigious ballet companies, universities, or international competitions.

 Rosario Suárez, celebrated in Cuba as the leading ballerina of her generation, was known for her profound artistry, versatility, and innovation. She won the gold medal at the 1970 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, and danced principal roles around the world during her 27-year career with the National Ballet of Cuba. In 1991, she received La Orden Por La Cultura Nacional for her artistic achievements.

Born in Havana, she trained at the Province Ballet School and the National School of the Arts with renowned teachers including Fernando and Alicia Alonso. At fifteen, she was invited by Fernando Alonso to join the National Ballet of Cuba, where she later became a principal dancer for fifteen years.

Rosario earned acclaim for her performances in Coppélia, Swan Lake, and Giselle, as well as for roles in Cuban works such as Tarde en la Siesta and Rara Avis. Highlights of her career include dancing Odette-Odile in Paris in 1983, La Sylphide in Guanajuato, and Giselle in Madrid. She later built a career in Spain, performing, teaching, and appearing in festivals, and in 2000 performed Fokine’s The Dying Swan at the Dance Festival of Madrid.

Moving to Miami, she taught at New World School of the Arts, founded Ballet Rosario Suárez and its academy, and premiered her first choreography, Cecilia Valdés, in 2002. Her final performance was La Última Función in 2010. She was named one of Miami’s top 100 Latinos for cultural impact in 2012.

Rosario has appeared in several films and documentaries, including Queen of Thursdays, which won Best Documentary at the Miami Film Festival. Known for expressive musicality and depth of character, she continues to teach and coach dancers in Miami, inspiring new generations with her passion and artistry.

Carlos Miguel Guerra, Cuban-born artistic director, performer, teacher, and choreographer, began his ballet training in Camagüey, Cuba. He became a Principal Dancer with the Ballet of Camagüey in 1996 and later with Ballet de Santiago in Chile. In 2000, after appearing on Sábado Gigante, he was invited by Edward Villella to join Miami City Ballet as a soloist and was promoted to principal dancer in 2003. He performed leading roles across MCB’s repertoire, premiered works by major choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky, and Liam Scarlett, and appeared in prestigious events such as the Kennedy Center’s Balanchine Celebration, the Vail Dance Festival, Fall for Dance, and PBS’s Great Performances.

Guerra has been featured in numerous publications and was named one of Florida’s 100 most influential people (2005) and one of South Florida’s top creative leaders. In 2015, he received the Miami Life Award for Best Male Ballet Dancer.

In 2016, he left MCB with his wife and partner Jennifer Kronenberg to found Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, where he now serves as co–artistic director and head ballet master. Under his leadership, the company has earned national recognition and invitations to major venues including The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow. He also helped shape Dance for Peace, benefiting UNICEF, for its U.S. premiere in 2019.

Beyond directing, Guerra teaches and mentors young dancers, creating condensed versions of classic ballets for student productions. Though his focus is now on directing and teaching, he continues to perform select roles each year with companies such as Miami Youth Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Ballet Vero Beach, and others.

Ms. Martinez began her training in classical ballet at the age of 10 at the School of Arts in Camaguey Cuba. At the age of 21 she graduated of the University of Arts with honors under the training of the founder of the Cuban Ballet School Fernando Alonso and Ramona de Saa. With more than 35 years of experience teaching classical ballet she have trained students for ballet competitions and many of them have been accepted to prestigious ballet companies around the world. She is also a master teacher in ballet methodology, pointe, pre classical dances, character dance, dance composition and conditioning. Ms. Martinez also provided technical advice to different schools in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Italy, Mexico and United States.

From the age of 2, Jackson knew by his first dance class that the art of dance was right for him. Growing up in Wausau, Wisconsin he felt he needed to push his limits. Moving from Wisconsin to Miami, Florida at the age of 10, to train at Stars Dance Company, Artistic Director Victor Smalley’s prestigious studio alongside multiple young artists in the making. He still trains at Stars Dance Company to this very day and works alongside Victor Smalley day in and day out, he has set multiple pieces at stars and around the country, with his favorite piece so far being “One”, an all boys dance that has named him “Best Choreographer” in the Teen and Senior age division at The Dance Awards this past year. He has booked jobs and made achievements such as: 

Professional Dancer at “New Jersey Ballet”

Dancer in Las Vegas light up show “Iluminate” The Tour

2024 Senior Male Best Dancer Winner 

He absolutely loves the style Contemporary as it allows you to show your true self and allows you to show both artistry and creativity with the technique, to incorporate emotion and intention, with movement and technical skills we all know and love. He has worked with many of the top choreographers such as Travis Wall, Talia Favia, Al Blackstone, Chaz Buzan, Brian Friedman, Tessandra Chavez, And of course Victor Smalley. Jackson lights up the room wherever he dances or teaches, He’s only 21 and the whole world has yet to see what he can do.

Elena Espinoza was born in New Jersey, but raised in South Florida. With years of experience as both a performer and educator, Elena brings a dynamic approach to the art of jazz. Known for her versatility, creativity, and passion for technique, she has worked with dancers of all levels, inspiring them to move with precision, confidence, and individuality.

In her classes, dancers can expect a balance of strong technique and expressive movement, with plenty of opportunities to challenge themselves, grow, and push themselves to their fullest potential. Elena’s teaching style encourages dancers to step outside of their comfort zones while building confidence and mastering the foundations of jazz technique! 

 Nicholas Bustos is an 18-year-old dancer from Miami, Florida. A versatile artist specializing in contemporary and ballet, he has earned major recognition including Junior Best Dancer (2020) and Senior Best Dancer (2025) at The Dance Awards. Nicholas has received numerous first-place titles at JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, YAGP, and UBC. Trained at Stars Dance Studio, he now teaches there while continuing his professional development through programs such as Aria Ballet Intensive, Ballet Plus, RubberBand Winter Intensive, Grand Premiere Intensive, and Arts Umbrella International Summer Intensive. He is currently touring as a Pro Assistant with Ovation Dance Tour and as an assistant with Dance One. 

Sophie Garcia is a vibrant performer, educator, and dance artist originally from Dallas, Texas and raised in Miami, Florida to pursue her passion for dance. She is currently a proud Miami Heat Dancer, known for her dynamic stage presence, athleticism, and artistry. Sophie recently earned one of the industry’s highest honors as a Best Dancer Winner at The Dance Awards, a milestone that reflects her dedication, skill, and love for the craft.

Along with performing, Sophie is deeply passionate about teaching and inspiring young dancers. She has worked with children of all ages and strives to create a positive, empowering, and creative learning environment where each student can grow fearlessly and express their individuality.

Sophie continues to expand her journey as a performer, mentor, and artist, driven by creativity, connection, and the joy of movement.