Interview with Ruby Romero-Issaev

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Ruby Romero-Issaev
Miami, FL, October 27, 2015
Interview asm0344000002
Interviewed by Julio Estorino
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Kriti Sood
Length: 00:31:51
Interview with Ruby Romero-Issaev, producer and marketing director for Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Ruby comes from a family of artists and says that her father Aldemaro Romero, a famous conductor and composer, was very impactful in her life. Initially, she worked with ballet and theatrical groups such as the Rajatabla Theater Group, the Conservatory of Music, and the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra. Ruby went on to promoting and touring for Ballet Nacional de Caracas- Teresa Carreño. It was there that she met her husband Vladimir Issaev. They moved to Miami in 1997, and both began to work at the Aventura Dance Company and eventually bought it. They then started the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida and have been running it ever since. Ruby has created many dance-based programs such as “Dancing with Disabilities” and “Art Ballet goes to school.” These programs help to raise funds for student scholarships. She also started the Aldemaro Romero foundation which helps children perform live in concerts and the Scarlett Cancer Foundation to support Hispanic families with cancer.
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu. INTERVIEW OUTLINE
 00:00:10: Introduction
 00:00:11: Ruby Romero thank you for this interview for UM. Let’s start. Tell me about yourself. Where were you born? Your family? Your childhood? Your early education.
 00:01:06: Coming from a family like that where music and the arts were ever present in your life. Now when you look back at your childhood, is there anything that you see now as an indication as how your life was going to develop?
 00:02:20: Well your father, Aldemaro Romero, was a famous conductor, musician. A man of many talents in especially music. How was it to be the daughter of such a prominent figure in the arts?
 00:03:49: Many children of famous people talk about how it was very hard for them to bear their father or some of them were very detached from the family because of their careers. How was the relationship with your father as father and daughter?
 00:05:40: How influential was he in your own vocation?
 00:06:34: You don’t find many organized artists…
 00:06:43: So he didn’t have to press you to follow this? It was on your own?
 00:07:39: Now Ruby, you started out as a multidisciplinary artist. Member of music groups, producer, chorus. At the end, why did you choose ballet as your main endeavor?
 00:09:57: But going back to when you started. You mentioned the Teresa Carreño Theater Ballet. And I know you did a lot of work toward the Vale nacional de Caracas. Tell us a little bit about those experiences.
 00:11:27: You said that is how you met your husband, Vladimir. How do you complement each other on your artistic skills?
 00:12:26: Well you mentioned that he got a contract here in the United States and that is how you came over to this country. Was that the only reason that you decided to emigrate?
 00:13:10: How early in the United States did you discover new cultural things and how did being Latino and sophisticated in the eyes of many, like Bel-aire, to adapt here?
 00:15:00: How did you start with this Ballet school, the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida? Tell us how a beginning like that – as any other immigrant to the United States and starting all over – how you finally came to having your own ballet school and building your professional life so well?  00:17:28: Are you happy that you decided to do that?
 00:17:36: Now, the dancing traditions of the different Latin American peoples. What we come to know as ballet folklorico…whatever name they want to call it. Do you consider that those cultural traits are recognized in the ballet scene internationally? Or have gained appreciation in the world?
 00:19:38: You came to Miami in the late 90’s, when you compare your first inspiration of Miami as the arts in Miami – ballet and different artistic inspirations – do you look back then and the situation now. What would you say about the appreciation then? Have we improved as a city?
 00:21:26: Now there is another aspect of your life that I think you said to be known by the people. Besides being the artist and a promoter, not only here but also in Venezuela. You are involved in financial work, in charity, in helping a lot of people. Tell us about that, I think that is very important.
 00:24:24: You also work with disabled children and the arts, how do you get a disabled child to be involved in the arts? Especially if it requires movements like in ballet?
 00:25:15: You also found philanthrogia, that if I understand correctly is to promote in our Hispanic communities, the ability or joy or giving. How do you promote that?
 00:26:17: Ruby, looking back and looking forward, where do you see yourself 10, 20 years from now?
 00:27:46: The community in South Florida has grown enormously. From the time that you lived here with your family, that boom in the Hispanic community and the Venezuelan community in particular – How has that affected your work?
 00:30:06: Now you have been recognized and have received many awards. What do they mean to you?
 00:31:03: Is there anything that we haven’t covered or that you want to add?
 00:31:13: Do you have a piece of advice for the young artists, especially the Latinas and the Hispanics here in the United States. What advice can you give them?
 00:31:51: END OF INTERVIEW