Our Team
Our dedicated staff members.
Staff Portal
Vivian Alzola
Owner & Director
With over 15 years of experience working with schools in South Florida, Vivian, along with her team, offers an enrichment program catered to meet each school's individual needs. Early in her career, Vivian worked for the quick service industry in strategic planning and marketing. She helped businesses launch new product initiatives and develop new marketing platforms. Currently, she oversees each of the enrichment programs and continues to expand the program for new and exciting opportunities! She holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Miami with a concentration in Marketing and a double minor in French and Legal Studies. As a mother, she sees the need to expose children to the arts and bringing out their inner talents to further develop their growth.
Ana-Paula Amodio
Dance Instructor
Ana Paula Amodio is has had years of experience working with children, tutoring, and teaching dance and possesses outstanding communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills in every role. Ana Paula has also worked as a Summer Camp Counselor, Dance Instructor, Choreographer, and Lead Tutor, and a Real Estate Assistant and Content Writer. Apart from profession and academics, she is a 12-year experienced dancer with regional and national titles who was the team captain. She is also devoted to service, having done over 300 hours of community service and is the Executive Director of Cajas de Esperanza, a nonprofit organization assisting the poor. Ana Paula is Portuguese, Spanish, and English trilingual and has a strong interest in leadership, teamwork, and giving back to the community.
Alexis Beltranena
Dance Instructor
Alexis is a dance instructor for Arts & Soul. She has been dancing since she was five years old. She recently graduated from St. Brendan High School and competed for the Sabrettes Dance Team. She enjoys teaching dance to a new generation of students. Alexis is currently studying business management in Florida International University.
Arabella Concepcion
Dance & Cheer Instructor
Arabella is a cheer and dance instructor for Arts & Soul. She graduated from Saint Brendan High School and currently attends Florida International University. Arabella has over 7 years of gymnastics training. She enjoys teaching children the importance of enjoying their sport to the fullest and being proud of their achievements no matter how small they may be.
Dania Cristiá
Dance Instructor
Dania is a ballet instructor for Arts & Soul. She is a former soloist dancer with the Cuban National Ballet and principal dancer for Ballet Camaguey. Her career began with formidable training from the acclaimed Cuban National Ballet School (Escuela Nacional de Arte). Dania danced for over 20 years throughout Cuba and numerous international ballet festivals. After retiring Ms. Cristiá transitioned her career as a master teacher for several ballet schools. She is well versed in training dancers for national and international ballet competitions where they have earned gold, silver, and bronze medals for technique and her choreography. She has been invited and continues to conduct ballet intensives throughout the world such as Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Argentina and the United States.
Lorena Gutierrez
Dance Instructor
Lorena is a dance instructor for Arts & Soul. She is a talented dancer, with over 8 years of experience in fusion, contemporary, musical, flamenco, and Latin dance. She has experience in choreography, acting and modeling. She graduated from the National School of Art in Havana, Cuba. Lorena worked for many years with the Lizt Alfonso Dance Company in Cuba and toured Internationally, participating in several dance festivals as s premier dancer and soloist. She loves working with children and teaching the next generation a passion for dance.
Matthew Diana
Robotics & Chess instructor
Matthew is a robotics & chess instructor for Arts & Soul. He graduated from Miami Coral Park Senior High's engineering magnet program at the top of his class. During his four years there, he was a member of the RamTech summer camp and Coral Park robotics club. This envolvement allowed him the opportunity to compete in several regional and national competitions earning podium finishes in numerous events. He is currently pursuing a degree in biotechnology with the eventual hopes of opening his own prosthetics practice. In his spare time, he loves to play sports, work on cars, and listen to music.
Erick "Tuto" Dominguez
Art Instructor
Tuto is an art instructor for Arts & Soul. Known for his illustrated surrealism, Tuto draws inspiration from a diverse range of sources. Tuto began his artistic journey rooted in street art but has since evolved to explore more cultural themes. Tuto's artwork has gained recognition through his dynamic contributions to the world-renowned Wynwood Walls boom, where his murals have left a lasting impression. Beyond Wynwood, he has brought his vibrant style to various locations, painting murals in Kingston, New York, and across multiple spots in Miami. Currently, Tuto is preparing for his Master's degree, where he continues to refine his craft. Represented by the Miami Arts Society, Tuto has the opportunity to share his artistic vision with a broader audience, contributing significantly to the thriving Miami art scene.
Lucas Dos Santos Tricoire
Martial Arts Instructor
Lucas is a martial arts instructor for Arts & Soul. He has over 6 years of experience training under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Nakapan, & Muay Thai World Champion, Gregory Choplin. With 4 years of coaching under his belt, he moved to Miami to pursue his dream of becoming a UFC World Champion. Lucas is also pursuing an exercise science degree at Florida International University. He has coached children in martial arts for several years . He currently holds the Muay Thai Middleweight State Title and is also a Team USA Qualifier. Lucas is trilingual, fluent is French, Portuguese & English. He is excited to share his knowledge and to introduce martial arts to the new generation.
Elena Fallow
Cheer Instructor
Elena is a cheer coach for Arts & Soul. She is currently attending the University of Miami. Elena has been cheering since she was 7 years old and has continued to cheer throughout her high school career. She has participated in the Miami Rescue Mission and Blue Missions Group in the Dominican Republic. Elena has worked with children through Achieve Miami to help them with develop reading comprehension and writing skills. In her past time, she enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Audrey Gamero
Coding, Chess, & Robotics Instructor
Audrey is a coding, chess, & robotics instructor for Arts & Soul. She is currently a junior at FIU pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Audrey has a strong foundation in programming languages such as Java, Python, C, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and SQL. She is deeply passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, and to pass on that love for computing to the younger generations through teaching.
Conrado "Coky" Garcia
Music Instructor
Coky is a music instructor for Arts & Soul. He is a world-renowned musician with a focus on percussion. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory and a Masters in Music from the Arts Superior Institute both located in Havana, Cuba. He has toured internationally with several musical artists including Willie Chirino, Amaury Gutierrez, and Juan Gabriel. Coky has also worked with several schools in South Florida leading the music programs for them. His background in Latin and Jazz music exposes students to another type of genre and sound. His passion is playing the drums and performing in local jazz clubs throughout Miami.
Eva Garrucho
Music Instructor
Eva is a music instructor for Arts & Soul. She was trained at the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba. Eva has regularly worked as a piano instructor in schools throughout Cuba, Spain, Mexico, and the US, all while performing as both, pianist/keyboardist and vocalist. She has performed in venues and theaters around the world for internationally acclaimed bands. Currently, Eva works with "Duo Habaneras" which she co-founded with cellist, Ivette Falcón.
Oswaldo Godoy
Martial Arts & Robotics Instructor
Oswaldo "Oz" is a martial arts and robotics instructor for Arts & Soul. He is currently a mechanical engineering student at Florida International University with over 4 years of experience in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under the tutelage of Mestre Andre Gusmao. He also has experience running a Robotics Summer Camp, where he worked with children from Pre-K to 8th grade. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Oz is passionate about teaching and sharing the values of discipline, respect, and perseverance through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Kyle "Buddha" Hanchard
Martial Arts Instructor
Buddha Hanchard is a martial arts instructor for Arts & Soul. He has been competing in mixed martial arts, boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 5 years now. Buddha has also been a kids martial arts instructor for 4 years now, teaching Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After attending Howard University, Buddha has now moved down to Miami to further pursue his professional career. Buddha loves working with the kids and sharing his passion of the martial arts with them, giving them the strength they need to walk through life with confidence.
Alejandro Hernandez
Chess Instructor
Alejandro Hernandez is a dedicated student and leader from Miami, studying at FIU's honor college. He has a stellar academic record and over 800 hours of community service, and juxtaposes academic achievement with leadership in student organizations. Alejandro has been the President of the Chess Club, Treasurer of the Academy of Finance, and co-founder of the National Business Honor Society, where he helped secure corporate sponsorships and financial literacy. Alejandro is a QuestBridge Finalist, bilingual English and Spanish, and QuickBooks, Excel, PowerPoint, and Bloomberg Market certified. Committed to business, finance, and mentoring, Alejandro is committed to making a difference by serving, teaching, and innovating.
Liz Hernandez
Spanish & Robotics Instructor
Liz is a Spanish and Robotics instructor for Arts & Soul. She has been teaching children for many years with a background in early childhood special education. She also taught children at La Prima Casa Montessori School. Liz holds a degree in Clinical Psychology and Business from Miami Dade College. She is currently pursuing her nursing degree.
Sofia Larreal
Cheer & Tumbling Instructor; Social Media Manager
Sofía Larreal is a dynamic, bilingual Doral, Florida-based expert in nutrition, sports instruction, photography, and new media. She has worked for Elite Gymnastics Academy as a Gymnastics Instructor, and Downtown Doral Charter Upper School as a Sports Photographer and Social Media Manager. Specializing in dynamic sports photography shooting, creating interactive web content, and promoting active lifestyles, Sofía brings creativity and discipline to every role. An ongoing Business Administration student at Miami Dade College, she is passionate about fitness, teamwork, and helping others achieve their goals.
Richard Maranon
Coding & Robotics Instructor
Richard is a robotics & coding instructor for Arts & Soul. He is currently a student at Florida International University pursuing a degree in Computer Science. His background in robotics stems from his early childhood years where he participated in VEX IQ competitions throughout South Florida. He enjoys teaching students robotics through new innovative STEM programs in hopes of them one day pursing a degree in a similar field.
Kelly Morales
Office Manager
Kelly assists in the recruitment of new teachers with our training and development program. She works behind the scenes for our new program offerings, quality control, procurement, and end of year performances. Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge in project management by offering new program initiatives and streamlining operations behind the scenes. Kelly is also a trained Robotics, Art, and Spanish instructor for Arts & Soul. As a mother, she is also a big supporter in developing youth art programs. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and serving her community. Check out her business instagram account called Kelly's Kuisines!
Jasmine Noonan
Cheer Instructor
Jasmine is a cheerleading coach for Arts & Soul. Jasmine began cheerleading when she was 10 years old and continued to cheer throughout high school and college, cheering for her university's D1 sports teams and competing in the NCA National Collegiate Championship. Jasmine has been mentoring younger cheerleaders as well as coaching cheerleading since 2011. Her passion for cheerleading combined with her love for working with children makes her job as a coach come naturally. Jasmine believes that all children should have the opportunity to be part of a team, as it allows them to grow into themselves and build self confidence while doing something fun outside of the classroom. Jasmine has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, and works as a real estate agent in Miami when she is not coaching. She hopes to eventually make enriching the lives of children through cheerleading a full time job!
Sofia Ortega
Theater Instructor
Sofia Ortega is a theater instructor for Arts & Soul. She is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she holds BFA in Drama with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Originally from Miami, her artistic journey began at age 10 with Broadway Musical Theatre in Key Biscayne, where she discovered her love for acting, singing, and dancing. Sofia has directed and choreographed numerous summer intensive workshops and offers lessons in voice, dance (Tap, Musical Theatre, and Jazz), and acting at numerous theatre and dance programs in Miami including Area Stage and Movement Miami. Beyond teaching, Sofia is also a skilled costume designer, leveraging her strong foundation in the visual arts. Design credits include Area Stage's acclaimed productions of Lionel Bart's Oliver!, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Anastasia, The Addams Family: Young@Part, and Frozen Jr. Her ultimate goal is to establish her own musical theatre school, where she can nurture aspiring artists to achieve their full potential.
Pedro Ramos
Website Editor & Music Instructor
Pedro is a music instructor at Arts & Souls. He teaches guitar placing a strong emphasis on theory to develop strong musical interest and knowledge at young ages. Pedro has spent his whole life vounteering for childrens activities as part of being a youth leader at his local church, during which he also spent time instructing students on drums & piano. He also serves as our web-editor, creating content and modifying our site. He is a graduate of Florida International University.
Claudia Rodriguez
Accounting & Administration
Coming soon.
Johan Rodriguez
Coding, Robotics & Chess Instructor
Johan is a coding instructor for Arts & Soul. He has been coding for over 10 years. He also worked with fellow Robotics curriculum writers, Bill and Nola Garcia, through the Breakthrough Outreach program. Currently, he is an FIU student majoring in computer science. Johan has a keen interest in programming that he loves to share with other students.
Valeria Rojas
Cheer & Tumbling Instructor
Valeria Rojas is a bilingual student and coach who is motivated to build positive, team-focused environments for kids. Having experience as a Community Manager at Advance Group USA, she has developed strong skills in online promotion on Google, Instagram, and Yelp. Valeria is also a Summer Camp and Junior Coach at Uknight Training Center, where she organized interactive events and supported junior cheerleaders in practice sessions, camps, and competitions. She also gained customer service experience at Absofruitty, where she acquired attention to detail skills along with a friendly and warm attitude. Currently pursuing her education at Florida International University after graduating from Lake Nona High School, Valeria is dedicated to working in teams, leading, and inspiring the young players to progress not as individuals but as a team.
Steffanye Rosa
Cheer & Tumbling Instructor
Steffanye is a cheer & tumbling instructor for Arts & Soul. She's been cheerleading for almost a decade starting in middle school. In high school, she was captain of her cheer team in her senior year. Most recently, Steffanye cheered for the FIU Cheer Team these past two years and was able to compete at the college national level. She graduated from Florida International University with a double major in International Business and Marketing. She looks forward to coaching a new generation of cheerleaders!
Anielka Rumbaut
Dance Instructor
Ani is a dance instructor for Arts & Soul. She has studied ballet and dance since she was a little girl. It has always been her passion. She is a graduate from the prestigious Academia de las Artes Vicentina de la Torre in Cuba. Her specialties include classical ballet instruction, creative movement, choreography and character & ballroom dancing. Apart from teaching ballet and yoga for Arts & Soul, she is also an instructor for several studios in Miami. She enjoys teaching children and exposing them to different forms of art.
Asser Saint-Val
Art Instructor
Asser is an art instructor for Arts & Soul. He holds Bachelor degrees in Fine Arts including Painting and Graphic Design from the New World School of the Arts and the University of Florida. Throughout his artistic journey, Asser has garnered widespread recognition and received numerous awards for his works. Notably, he was honored with the prestigious South Florida Consortium Award three times for his captivating mixed media paintings and innovative art installations. Asser is a recipient of the Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Stipend award Program in 2022 and 2023. His work has graced the walls of international art fairs, galleries, museums, and experimental spaces in diverse cities and countries. His artwork has found a cherished place in esteemed private collections such as the Rubell, Mike Paola's Collection, Arturo Mosquera; Lisa Collection and The Miami Dade County Public Library System. Asser has an exciting lineup of future projects. In September 2024, he will present a solo exhibition at The Frank C. Ortis Gallery in Pembroke Pines. Additionally, he has been commissioned for two public art projects in Miami-Dade County, signifying the potential for his artistry and creativity to leave a lasting impact on the community.
Frances Sanchez
Billing Manager
Coming soon.
Patty Suau
Art, Spanish & Robotics Instructor
Patty is an art, Spanish and robotics instructor for Arts & Soul. Growing up in Miami, drawing became her medium for communicating with different cultures. She is a graduate of New World School of the Arts and Maryland Institute College of Art. After graduating from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in International Relations, she managed and curated the Bacardi Corporate Art Collection throughout the U.S., Bermuda, Mexico, and Puerto Rico as well as the Emilio Bacardi Museum. Her work has been commissioned throughout South Florida and showcased at Miami's Pulse Art Fair, Aqua Art Fair and has been featured in Dade Magazine and Art Space.
Bettina Vainer
Dance Instructor
Bettina is a highly accomplished dancer, choreographer, and educator with experience accross the world. She is trained in classical, contemporary, spanish, flamenco, tango, and jazz. Combining artistry with expertise in biomechanics and Pilates, she is dedicating to guiding performers expertly.
Mayela Vasquez
Cheer Instructor
Mayela is a cheer coach for Arts & Soul. Not only was she was the cheer captain of her high school cheer team, she also helped lead her team to state finals. Mayela also runs her own tutoring & babysitting program in the Miami area. Her passion for teaching children stems from her own experiences and opportunities provided to her.