Miguel Campaneria
Owner & Artistic Director
Mr. Campaneria was born in Cuba and was trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba under the guidance of Alicia Alonso, Fernando Alonso and Azari Plisetski. He joined the National Ballet of Cuba and was promoted to soloist at the age of 17. He won the Bronze Medal in the Junior category at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. He also partnered with Alicia Alonso in Marguerite, Armand and other ballets.
Upon leaving Cuba, Mr. Campaneria danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Harkness Ballet, America Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Ballets de San Juan.
Mr. Campaneria has over 45 years of dance experience as a Principal Dancer, guest artist, choreographer and artistic director in various well-established ballet companies all over the world. In 2007 President Georg W. Bush appointed Mr. Campaneria to serve on the National Endowment of the Arts Council (NEA).
In August 2008, Mr. Campaneria was appointed the chair of dance at The Hartt School Community Division.
For over 20 years, Mr. Campaneria has been invited to Japan, serving four schools as Artistic Advisor, coach, choreographer and selective liaison bringing professional artists from the U.S. to perform in his ballet productions in Japan. Additionally, Mr. Campaneria has been strategic in training talented international students from abroad in his programs here in the United States. Since 2010, Mr. Campaneria has been Artistic Director and Ballet Master coaching pre-professional students and professional dancers in the state of North Carolina. He currently has over twenty former students who are working in professional companies all around the world.
Under his professional coaching, numerous students have competed in many world competitions and won top places in both Classical and Contemporary Ballet categories. In addition, he has been awarded “The Outstanding Teacher Award” by the Youth America Grand Prix in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, Mr. Campaneria provided the opportunity and selected top students to perform abroad, dancing leading roles that provided not only invaluable dance experience and exposure to the students but tremendous personal cultural enrichment.
In September 2015, Mr. Campaneria established a permanent home in his own school in Cary, North Carolina – Campaneria Ballet School. In May of 2021, the school relocated to Apex, North Carolina.
Artistic Co-Director
Chavela Riera, a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba. She has over 11 years of professional experience. She trained at the National Ballet of Cuba Fernando Alonso and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance of the Art from the university of for the arts. Chavela’s repertoire includes leading roles in classics like Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Balanchines Theme and Variations, Les Sylphides, and Esmeralda, as well as contemporary choreographies. She has also worked with renowned choreographers such as Gemma Bond, Jessica Lang, Ben Stevenson, Luis Serrano, Anabel López Ochoa, Cathy Marston, and Johan Kobborg. With over 5 years of teaching experience, she mentored young dancers at the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School, developed curriculum, and prepared students for national competitions. Based in Cary, North Carolina, Chavela continues to inspire both on stage and in the classroom.
Karen Olsen
Ballet
Ms. Olsen received her ballet training at the School of American Ballet in New York City, where she attended on a Ford Foundation Scholarship for four years. There she studied under such ballet greats as Antonia Tumkovsky, Alexandra Danilova, Stanley Williams and Suki Shorer. Upon graduation she joined New York City Ballet as an apprentice where she performed in such Balanchine ballets as Theme and Variations, Symphony in C, Jewels and others. Ms. Olsen has performed in various cities across the U.S. and Europe and has appeared as guest artist with London Ballet Theatre, Maximum Dance Company and Miami Youth Ballet. For the past 25 years, Ms. Olsen has taught Ballet for various schools, including the prestigious Gulliver Academy. She designed the award-winning preschool dance program in Dade County, Florida, for Headstart. Currently, Ms. Olsen resides in Cary with her husband, Pat, and has three adult children.
Rosalba Lara
Ballet, Tap
Rosalba Lara is a versatile and accomplished dancer and teacher with extensive training in both classical ballet and contemporary dance. She was born in Belize and raised in the United States, and her cultural heritage has greatly influenced her artistic expression. Rosalba’s dance journey began in Portland and continued in New York City. She has had 33 years of dance training and experience to hone her craft. During this time, she trained at prestigious institutions including Studio Maestro, American Ballet Theatre, Steps on Broadway, and Peridance in Manhattan. Her dedication to dance led her to perform professionally on some of the most renowned stages in and around New York City, including the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Her skill set spans a wide range of dance styles, from classical ballet and contemporary dance to Argentine tango, hip-hop, tap and jazz. After spending five years in Washington D.C., where she trained with the D.C. Contemporary Dance Theatre, Rosalba relocated to Raleigh in 2017 to be with family. As Rosalba embarks on this new chapter, she continues to bring her diverse talents to her dance teaching. Her passion lies in teaching the foundations to shape the next generation of dancers.
Trey Fletcher
Contemporary, Jazz
Trey Fletcher is a dynamic choreographer and seasoned dance performer whose passion for movement has spanned over 15 years. Trey’s journey into the world of dance began as a sanctuary for his mental well-being, evolving into a remarkable career marked by dedication and artistic excellence. Since 2019, Trey has been teaching across the country. A proud alum of Durham Public Schools, Trey attended Durham School of the Arts for high school and Carrington Middle School. Trey further honed his craft at Fordham University. He also had the privilege of training at prestigious institutions in New York City, including The Juilliard School on scholarship. Trey Fletcher is a current student of North Carolina Central University studying for his Bachelors of Arts in Dance Education. He continues to inspire and uplift through the transformative power of dance in various community outreach programs.
Allison Fleeman
Ballet, Tap
Allison Fleeman has been a dedicated student training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap for 11 years, including her most recent 9 years at Campaneria Ballet School. She has performed in a variety of classical productions, including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Coppélia, taking on a range of roles that showcase both her technical skill and expressive artistry. She has furthered her training through elite programs at the School of American Ballet, Ellison Ballet, and Art of Classical Ballet. Allison has earned recognition at several prestigious competitions, including Top Twelve in Classical at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Winston-Salem in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and 4th place in Classical at the Universal Ballet Competition in 2025. Beyond the stage, Allison has a growing passion for teaching and mentoring young dancers. She has served as a teaching assistant for dance classes at Cary Chinese School, where she enjoyed helping students build confidence and express themselves through movement. Allison is excited to share her love of dance and inspire the next generation through encouragement, creativity, and joy in every class she teaches