A life in dance
The story of Annarella begins with Annarella Sánchez and the Cuban ballet tradition in which she trained. Her education took her from the ballet school in Camagüey to a specialisation in classical dance at Cuba’s higher institute of arts. In Portugal, Leiria became the home of her teaching and the school she would build.
In 1998, she founded Annarella Academia de Ballet e Dança. The academy marked the beginning of a long relationship with the city and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023.
A new chapter for young dancers
The creation of the Conservatório Internacional de Ballet e Dança Annarella Sánchez in 2015 opened a new chapter. Specialised Basic and Secondary Dance Courses brought dance education into a structured pathway, combining training at the conservatory with academic studies at partner public schools.
Technique is one part of that education. Creative exploration, choreography, aesthetic awareness and the history of dance help students develop their understanding of the art alongside their physical skills.
From the studio to the stage
The stage is another part of the Annarella story. In May 2018, Companhia de Ballet de Leiria made its public debut at Teatro José Lúcio da Silva under Annarella’s direction. Its opening programme paired Chopiniana (Les Sylphides) with a new work by Ricardo Flores, bringing classical repertoire and contemporary creation together.
Alongside the academy and conservatory, the company added a new dimension to Annarella’s work in Leiria: a place for performance as well as education.
Paths beyond Leiria
In 2021, conservatory student António Casalinho became one of the six prizewinners at the Prix de Lausanne, also sharing the Contemporary Dance Award with Rui Cesar Cruz. That February, Leiria’s municipal council unanimously honoured both Casalinho and the conservatory with a vote of commendation.
For dancers trained at Annarella, new chapters have also unfolded in professional companies. Margarita Fernandes joined Bayerisches Staatsballett in the 2021/22 season, dancing there through 2024/25 before moving to Vienna State Ballet as a soloist in 2025/26.
A community that keeps dancing
In January 2026, Storm Kristin damaged the conservatory’s premises. As reconstruction began, rehearsals continued in temporary spaces across Leiria, with the city helping to keep dance in motion.
Companhia Nacional de Bailado and OPART expressed their solidarity with Annarella. The connection between the institutions extends to work-based training and to former students who have gone on to work with the national company—a relationship linking the classroom, the profession and the wider dance community.
Thanks to the support of the community, all the studio’s spaces were restored in a short time. Annarella continues its work with even greater enthusiasm, carrying that spirit of solidarity into every new chapter.
Discover Annarella
Further reading
- Jornal de Leiria / Politécnico de Leiria — founder interview (17 July 2023)
- Jornal de Leiria — 25-year retrospective (14 September 2023)
- Município de Leiria — Ata 4/21, DLB 157/21 (17 February 2021), PDF p. 4
- Conservatório Annarella — Oferta Formativa
- RTP / Lusa — Companhia de Ballet de Leiria (9 May 2018)
- Prix de Lausanne — results / résultats (6 February 2021)
- Bayerische Staatsoper — Margarita Fernandes (biography, September 2025)
- OPART / Companhia Nacional de Bailado — solidarity statement (29 January 2026)
- Região de Leiria — reconstruction and temporary rehearsal spaces (5 February 2026)