Stéphano Candreva
Choreographer · Artistic Director · Educator
Born in Brazil and based in the United States, Stéphano Candreva is a choreographer, director, and educator recognized for blending classical rigor with contemporary sensibility. He began performing professionally at age 11 on national television in Brazil and went on to dance with leading American companies including The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, and City Ballet of San Diego.
In 2024 he was appointed Artistic Director of Ballet Pensacola, where he restaged Sleeping Beauty (after Petipa), delivered record-breaking Nutcracker (his creation after Petipa) sales, and was named by the community’s Best of the Coast awards for best theater production. His original ballets include Cinderella (2023), Maktub (2024 – Sanctuary of the Arts), and numerous short works for opera, workshops, and schools.
A dedicated teacher for more than 15 years, he has guided students from beginner to professional levels, with every private pupil earning acceptance into major international academies. His professional training spans the Miami City Ballet School, Escola de Dança Alice Arja, and the Milwaukee Ballet School, and he has been recognized as a Prix de Lausanne semi-finalist and silver medalist at the International Seminar of Dance in Brasília.
Candreva also holds certifications in Arts Management (University of Maryland), Project Management, Bookkeeping, Data Analytics, and Management Principles from Johns Hopkins and Google programs—credentials that strengthen his results-driven approach to artistic leadership.
Stéphano Candreva 