Santino Benjamin Herrera, born in Argentina, began his dance training at the age of 13 at Danza Andrea Montero in Salta, Argentina. Showing rapid progress and passion for ballet, at the age of 15, Santino was awarded a full scholarship by Director Mariaelena Ruiz to join Cary Ballet Conservatory’s Professional Training Program in North Carolina, USA.
Since joining Cary Ballet Conservatory, Santino has established himself as a rising talent on the international stage. He has participated in prestigious competitions, including the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the American Dance Competition | International Ballet Competition (ADC|IBC), and the Prix de Lausanne.
In 2024, Santino achieved significant recognition: he won first place in Senior Classical at the YAGP semi-finals in Winston-Salem, NC; earned second place in both Senior Classical and Contemporary at ADC|IBC semi-finals in Raleigh, NC; and advanced to the final round of YAGP Finals at Lincoln Center in New York City. At ADC, he reached the final rounds and secured a spot in the Top 10.
In 2025, Santino’s accomplishments grew even further. He was selected as a Prix de Lausanne candidate, representing Cary Ballet Conservatory. At ADC|IBC semi-finals in Winston-Salem, he won first place in Senior Classical and second place in Senior Contemporary. At the YAGP semi-finals in Raleigh, NC, he again earned first place in Senior Classical and second place in Senior Contemporary.
At ADC Finals, Santino reached the pinnacle of success: he advanced to the final rounds, won first place in his category, earned the highest overall score among both male and female dancers, and was awarded the prestigious Fernando Bujones Recognition Prize.
At YAGP Finals, Santino placed in the Top 12 in the Men’s Category as well as the Top 12 in Pas de Deux. His talent earned him multiple gala invitations for both YAGP and ADC|IBC, with performances in St. Petersburg, Tampa, New York City, and Lake Como.
As a result of the scholarship he was awarded during his participation at the Prix de Lausanne, Santino will be joining the Royal Ballet in London, where he will continue his training and pursue the next stage of his professional career.