About Our Dance Program

Mrs. Martinez, a native of Miami, Florida, has cultivated a lifelong passion for dance from an early age. Her journey into the world of dance began at Ballet Concerto, where she studied Ballet, Pointe Pas de deux, Jazz and Modern. Growing up, she thrived in the nurturing environment of Miami Dade Public School Magnet Dance programs, attending South Miami Elementary and South Miami Middle School.

Driven by her unwavering dedication to dance, Mrs. Martinez pursued higher education at Florida State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. Under the guidance of acclaimed instructors such as Richard Sias, Anjali Austin, Sheila Humphreys, Suzanne Farrell, Lynda Davis, Patty Philips, Anthony Morgan, and Gerri Houlihan, she immersed herself in both classical Ballet and Modern dance techniques.

Following her graduation, Mrs. Martinez embarked on a fulfilling teaching career, starting at West Miami Middle School before joining the faculty at Coral Reef High School in 2016. As the Ballet Director of the program, she imparts her expertise to aspiring dancers, teaching ballet technique classes, variations, dance conditioning, and composition. Her dedication to professional growth is evident through her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).

Beyond her role as an educator, Mrs. Martinez is actively involved in the dance community, serving as the Vice President of the D.A.D.E. Association. She also fosters the talents of students through her sponsorship of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts. Furthermore, she has played a pivotal role in establishing the Coral Reef Ballet Company, which has showcased its talents at prestigious competitions such as the Universal Ballet Competition.

Mrs. Martinez's commitment to excellence, coupled with her passion for nurturing young talents, continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of dance, inspiring generations to follow their dreams and pursue their artistic aspirations.

Mrs. Santalo began her dance training at Ballet Concerto where she studied Ballet, Jazz and Flamenco.  She received her BFA from FIU in Dance Administration which lead her to opening a dance program at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.  Mrs. Santalo continued teaching at Southwood Middle School before settling down and opening the Coral Reef Magnet Dance program in 1997.  She began the Cudettes Dance Team in 1998, attending several competitions throughout the years winning numerous Regional, State and National dance competitions. She has led The Cudettes Varsity and Junior Varsity teams to several National Championships including being 4X champions in 2020 winning Large Varsity Jazz and Hip Hop and Junior Varsity Jazz and Hip Hop.   She was the president of the DADE association for 5 years and remains on the board as a consultant.  Throughout the years, she directed dozens of performances including the full length Nutcracker Ballet and the Halloween showcase "Fright Night".  Her passion is teamwork, unity and school spirit encouraging her dancers to train hard and love their school.  Many of her students have graduated and become professional performers in both the commercial and contemporary world. 

  An alumnus of Coral Reef Senior High School, Julien Valme received his BFA in Dance with a concentration in Ballet Performance from the University of South Florida. Upon graduation from USF, Valme enjoyed a diverse professional career performing with River North Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Dance Lab New York, and two seasons at the MUNY performing in On Your Feet and Legally Blonde. You can also find him in season three of the Marvelous Maisel, as well as the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show with The Weeknd. He is excited to return to his roots at Coral Reef Senior High to give back to a place he considers home!