Susana Prieto
Susana Prieto Elden founded Ballet Etudes of South Florida in 1974 with a mission to promote, preserve and perform classical ballet. For over 50 years, she has trained thousands of dancers and staged hundreds of professional productions, shaping South Florida’s ballet community. Born in Havana, Cuba, she fled to Miami in 1961, continuing her ballet training before becoming a soloist with Ballet Concerto. Her passion for teaching led her to establish Ballet Etudes in Hialeah, where she developed young dancers and directed classical productions such as Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. Prieto Elden has received numerous honors, including the keys to Miami Beach, Hialeah, and Miami-Dade County. She also performed with the legendary Rudolf Nureyev. Today, she continues to inspire new generations of dancers, ensuring Ballet Etudes remains a cornerstone of Miami’s ballet tradition.