The Centro Cultural Brasil-USA congratulates five Brazilians who fulfilled a dream – to be hired as "company apprentices" of the Miami City Ballet.

With talent, superb technique, discipline and will power, Natalia Arja, Andrei Chagas, Alexandre Ferreira, Kleber Rebello and Renan Cerdeiro, overcame financial, social and logistical difficulties to come to Miami to pursue their dreams of pursuing a career as classical dancers. These Five talented young Brazilian dancers have now graduated from the Miami City Ballet School and are taking an important first step towards starting a successful career outside of Brazil.

The dancers recognize the tremendous support that was instrumental to their success. The Brazilian former ballet dancer and educator Alice Arja, selected them in Brazil; Ricardo Montealegre, the administrative director of the MCBS and Linda Villela and founder/director of MCBS, opened the door of the school to these young talents. They were then chosen by Edward Villela to be part of Miami City Ballet which is considered one of the best ballet companies in the U.S. These are the first group of Brazilian dancers to participate in the program established between the Alice Arja ballet schools and social project and the Miami City Ballet School and Company. The Centro Cultural wishes all of the dancers a spectacular career and many beautiful performances to come.