OUR FACULTY

Ana Lobé

Founder, Ballet Academy Artistic Director

Ana Lobé has over 25 years of professional dance experience. She trained with Cuba’s National Ballet School. Later joining English National Ballet as a Principal Dancer. Choreographer and Artistic Director,  Dennis Nahat, brought Ms. Lobé to Cleveland San Jose Ballet in 1994, where she extended her already existing classical repertoire dancing the lead roles in productions of  Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, El Toreador, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Apollo, Who Cares?, Theme & Variation, Raymonda and Carmen, the masterpiece from French Choreographer, Roland Petit, which Nahat brought specially for her. 

Fast forward to September 2012, Ms. Lobé founded “ALBA” Ana Lobe Ballet Academy. She has created an exciting, synergistic curriculum with injury prevention that is a culmination of all the knowledge she received from her early training in Cuba and from working with other influential artists throughout her career. By serving the needs of the dancer, ALBA has established itself as a facility that connects people with a passion for dance; whether they hope to become professional ballerinas or go on to fulfill other aspirations. Learn more about Ms. Lobé.

Photography by Luca Sportelli Creations

Liane Fortino

Power + Flexibility

Liane Fortino grew up dancing and competing in a variety of styles in the Youngstown area; tap, jazz, and lyrical being her favorite. She went on to receive her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Youngstown State University. While there, she continued to dance for YSU’s dance/majorette/Pom team as well as choreograph and perform in their performance company (Dance Ensemble). Upon graduation, she moved to Las Vegas to teach first grade and continued to take classes (including ballroom) just for fun. She went on to start a family and receive her M.A. in administration and leadership. Upon graduation, she moved back to the Cleveland area where she took a hiatus from teaching school and fulfilled a lifelong dream of teaching dance. She began teaching in 2016 for North Royalton Dance Academy, where she has since taken over the tap program and been teaching and choreographing routines for performance and competition in a variety of styles. She also teaches technique and conditioning classes that focus on the dancer’s strength, power, endurance, agility, and balance. 

Liane has also choreographed for seasons 3 (fall 2018) and 5 (fall 2019) for Cleveland Dance Project. Her competition tap pieces have won top placements and judges choice/entertainment awards year after year. She strives to be creative with tap and make it fun and interesting for her students and the audiences they perform for. “When you dance to your own rhythm, life taps it’s toes to your beat.”

Heather Muzic

Ballet

Heather Muzic started her dance training at Angela’s Dance Studio where she studied the Cecchetti Method of ballet, pointe, jazz and tap. After graduating high school, Muzic took her love of dance to the University of Akron in pursuit of a BFA in Dance Performance and Education. During those four years, she studied ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz under the instruction ofAndy Carroll, Lana Carroll, Jerry Burr, Inna Stabrova, Tom Smith and Priscilla Wagner. She performed with Akron’s Repertory Dance Company and attended and performed at The American College Dance Festival. Muzic also had the opportunity to study with Joffrey Ballet,Ohio Ballet, Ohio Dance Theatre, Jennifer Muller Dance Company, Inlet Dance Theatre and multiple schools in New York City, including Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway.

Muzic has been teaching in Northeast Ohio for over twenty years, bringing her love and passion for dance to Studio 82, Solon Center For the Arts, Noreen Londregan School of Dance, Rising Star, Music Settlement, CMSD, and Dianna Durkin. In addition to teaching in the studio setting, she always makes time to help further her students' individual growth by offering mentorship and private lessons. She has choreographed for multiple venues including recitals, weddings, and dance competitions–with her latest piece taking first overall at KAR. Muzic has also taught multiple masterclasses, most recently at the All Ohio Dance Festival. She also has been a master shoe fitter at Stage Center for the past seven years, ensuring perfect fits for all styles of dance with a focus on pointe shoes.

Christina Caruso

Group Certified Fitness Instructor

Christina Caruso is a core specialist and has been working professionally in the fitness industry, specializing in cardio, strength, and flexibility training. Her focus on motivating and personalizing every experience for every client will make a difference and help you reach your goals. She teaches CUBANCORE®, which incorporates Cuban Soul music with new and advanced exercises to stretch and tone your legs, work abdominals, tone your arms, and boost your energy.