About the Founder
Fernanda Castillo-Enriquez (María)
The work of many people and partners has been fundamental to this program’s beauty and impact. However, its beginnings trace back to Guatemala, to my own story:
My name is Maria Fernanda Castillo-Enriquez (I go by Fernanda). I am the founder and sole director of Ballet for the World Initiative. I am the granddaughter of campesinos who worked the land to provide for their family and the daughter of a single mother who worked diligently so I could dance. Originally from Guatemala, I first saw ballet dancers on TV when I was four. The Ballet Nacional de Cuba used to be broadcast on local channels, and my mom and I would spend afternoons admiring it. Unbeknownst to either of us, this was like a Ballet Appreciation 101 class. My mom would tell me, “Look at their arms and pay attention to what they do with their hands.” I fell in love and found a lifelong passion. Ballet, to me, became magic and wonder. The beauty of art sank deeply into my soul, and I knew it would stay with me forever.
When I was nine, my mom learned that my local municipality was opening ballet classes. I auditioned and was quickly accepted. In a room within a military barracks, with rustic floors, no barres, no mirrors, and no ballet equipment, a dedicated ballet teacher would meet with us a few times per week, sharing her love of dance with many Guatemalan girls. Later, I knew I had to leave my hometown to pursue my biggest dream: to become a ballet dancer and wear pointe shoes. My mother decided to leave our hometown and bring me to Guatemala City for training. Those years were challenging. Money was tight, living in the city was costly, and taking three public buses to reach my classes was initially difficult.
But my mom and I didn’t give up. Every day, we traveled almost two hours from the city’s outskirts to the most affluent area, where the Marcelle Bonge De Devaux ballet school was located. At 16, I was finally able to dance on pointe, learn the Vaganova technique, and envision my future as a dancer. In 2018, I was fortunate to meet Miss Zhanna Dubrovskaya, who offered to train me in Florida. My mother, through loans and hard work, sent me to the U.S. to continue my training and pursue my dreams. There, I worked as hard as possible to improve my technique and artistry. Later, I was accepted into the Vivat Ballet! Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov, former Mariinsky dancer and choreographer. I became the second Guatemalan citizen to perform at a Russian State theater. I also danced at A&A Ballet in Chicago, took open classes at the Joffrey Ballet, and attended the Russian Masters Ballet in Alicante, Spain.
My dedication to dance was rooted not only in achieving my own dreams but also in my desire to give back to the community that had seen me grow up. In 2020, I had to stop dancing due to the rising costs of ballet education and the challenges brought by the pandemic. But I decided it was time to start working on my aspirations. First, I became a volunteer for Transformacion Ballet in the Guatemalan highlands, providing online classes for children from low-income and vulnerable backgrounds. Later, I volunteered in person and served as the assistant director of the NGO as an intern. This experience taught me a great deal about the urgent need to invest in children’s futures through alternative educational programs.
In 2022, as part of the Quanta-Honors program at Daytona State College in Florida, an opportunity arose to serve the local community. My professors encouraged me to teach ballet classes at the Hope Place emergency shelter for families. I saw firsthand the children’s need for transformative, alternative extracurriculars. This marked the first step for Ballet for the World Initiative. Sitting beside my mentor, Hosanna Folsmbee, we discussed the program’s framework. I then began spending around five hours each week at the shelter, identifying needs and implementing ballet classes.
The initiative was warmly welcomed in the Volusia County community, and the Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach obtained a $5,500 “Dance for Wellness” grant from Rotary International. This funding was crucial for securing ballet equipment and uniforms. A few months later, I also applied for the Social Innovation Fund by United Way, securing an additional $2,000 to continue supporting the program. I have since dedicated over 200 volunteer hours to BFTWI, teaching, seeking scholarship opportunities for the children, and building partnerships with organizations such as Quanta-Honors College at Daytona State College, Halifax Urban Ministries, Hope Place, Brown Girls Do Ballet, Dance Depot, the Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach, United Way, and the Bonner Program at Stetson University—all while developing a much-needed program in this area.
Ballet for the World Initiative motivates me daily, inspires me to pursue a college education, and keeps me moving forward, filled with hope to support children with dreams of becoming dancers, artists, and more. Four years ago, I had to give up on my most significant dream, and I promised never to give up the fight against disparities, no matter where I was. Although I am not an American citizen, I have given all my knowledge, support, and help to provide free fine arts extracurriculars to over 75 children in Volusia County. My mission is to create high-quality out-of-school programs for children of all backgrounds here in the United States and, one day not far from now, in my hometown in Guatemala.
What began years ago with the hard work of my grandparents striving to educate their children in rural Guatemala, my mother’s efforts to give me a better life, and my aspirations to change the world through art continues today more than ever. Ballet for the World Initiative seeks to provide children with educational opportunities and will continue to do so. As the founder and director of this initiative, I am committed to ensuring its sustainability and growth.
For the Children. For the Arts. For the World.
Fernanda Castillo
Founder and Director, Ballet for the World Initiative