Today we’d like to introduce you to Vilma Borbolla.
Hi Vilma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a dancer and dance educator who is passionate about dance and its ability to empower people, communities and societies. I am also passionate about bringing dance into the public, exposing new audiences, interacting and creating communities. My Story: My parents immigrated from Cuba to Miami, Florida in the early 60’s. I was placed in dance at the early age of three at the Cuban ballet school near our home which made it easy for me to fit in as neither my parents nor I had learned the English language. I spent many hours at my new home (ballet school). It was an instant passion. As a child dancer, the love and gift to dance came to me like a birthright. In my teens, I was given the opportunity to join a professional ballet company. I also began to teach in my early teens and continued to teach as I pursued my degree in BA and Accounting. I graduated with the dream of owning my own dance studio and dance company someday.
I am truly blessed to have both with the love and support of my husband and three amazing boys.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey definitely hasn’t been without challenges. My purpose and goal is not just to share my knowledge of ballet and dance, but also to share my passion for dance. You can get students that have the passion but not necessarily the talent. I can also get students that have incredible talent and potential but do not have the passion. For these and many other reasons, keeping students in the program is a challenge. After the initial pandemic period, many students were not allowed to return. I was almost like starting over when we reopened in September of 2020 but thankfully, we are back to full enrollment.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I worked as a ballet instructor for many years in different schools. I also founded a very successful dance program at my son’s elementary and middle school. After my boys graduated from the school is when I took the leap and opened up my own ballet school just inside a nearby park and called it Ballet At the Park. I have always loved the outdoors and nature, and this just was the perfect combination. Parents can bring their children to dance class and simultaneously have siblings in another sport. They can stay at the park to exercise themselves or take young siblings to the playground. I am extremely proud to be in my 11th season in my own dance studio do what I love and loving what I do!
I believe what sets us apart is our family, friendly style studio. We teach with plenty of discipline along with love and compassion. All of our teachers and staff treat our students like family and in turn, the students also become family. They help each other and bring each other up without any competition. Students begin training at the age of three in our student program and gradually progress to our pre-professional division. We train our students for Dance Magnet, Dance Teams and of course Dance Universities.
I am proud of my work not just as a dance educator, but I am most proud of my involvement and commitment to the South Florida community. Our upper-level dancers, known as BAP Dance Company, take part in several performances a year throughout the community which includes outdoor fairs, festivals, and fundraising events. BAP Company supports many causes such as the Susan G Komen Foundation, Relay for Life, Parkinson’s Foundation and others. These community performances enrich our advanced-level dancers by developing their performance skills, but they also make them feel like part of the community. SHARING MY PASSION OF BALLET AND DANCE WITH OUR SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY ALONG WITH ADDING TO OUR SOUTH FLORIDA CULTURAL ARTS ENVIRONMENT FULFILLS OUR MISSION IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WAY!
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I have so many, but my favorite childhood memory is coming home from ballet school one day. I must have been eight years old and walking into a completely renovated bedroom that included a lamp with ballerinas. The lamp I will never forget but the memory of the incredible surprise is unforgettable. My parents not only sent me to ballet school, they supported me every step of the way. i THANK MY PARENTS FOR THE JOY OF DANCE EVERYDAY!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.balletatthepark.com
- Instagram: @balletatthepark
- Facebook: Ballet At The Park Dance Studio
- Other: https://communitynewspapers.com/featured/ballet-at-the-park-brings-classic-artworks-to-life/
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Alex Perez
