Maylu Pena
Company Member & Instructor
Maylu was born in Caracas, Venezuela, where she received her Diploma
in Classical Ballet from the National School of Dance (ENDANZA) at
Teatro Teresa Carreño after completing the Vaganova training program.
While also training internationally at the Académie de Danse
Montparnasse in Paris and the National School of Cuba through two
international ballet festivals, and attended summer intensives on
scholarship at Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Joffrey Ballet New York, and
Gelsey Kirkland Academy, as well as The Art of Classical Ballet, City
Ballet of San Diego, and Master Ballet Academy.
After receiving a full scholarship to train with Metropolitan Ballet
in Minnesota under Tatiana Berenova, Maylu moved to the United States
and later joined Continental Ballet Company under the direction of
Riet Velthusien. She progressed from apprentice to soloist, performing
leading roles including Clara, Snow Queen, and Flower Queen in The
Nutcracker, Cinderella, Kitri, Carmen, Medora, Swanhilda, Giselle, the
Flames of Paris Pas de Deux, and many other works. She also danced
with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami and guested and trained with
Adiarys Almeida and Taras Domitro at Hollywood Ballet Academy, as well
as performing and coaching throughout the US.
As an educator, Maylu has taught pre-professional ballet at North
Ballet Academy, Larkin Dance Studio, Northwest Rhythmic Gymnastics,
Dance Empire, E&S Entertainment, and Milwaukee Ballet School &
Academy, where she taught ballet as part of one of the nation's
leading professional ballet academies. Alongside her dance career, she
earned a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition from the University of
Minnesota. Having struggled with an eating disorder during her youth,
Maylu became passionate about helping others develop a healthier
relationship with food and their bodies while preventing the
challenges she once faced herself. Today, she combines both
professions by helping dancers optimize performance, recovery, energy
availability, injury prevention, and long-term health through
evidence-based nutrition and a mindful approach to fueling the body.
She also created a senior ballet program called SitFitBallet. And has
been featured in Lavender Magazine, La Prensa, HOLA Magazine
Venezuela, The Pioneer Press, Telemundo Wisconsin, and other local
publications throughout the Midwest.
