FACULTY UPPER DIVISION
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FACULTY CONTEMPORARY
FACULTY PRE-BALLET DIVISION
Arsen Serobian
Instructor, Classical
EDUCATION
AA, Drama & Dramatics/Theatre Arts, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles
Drama & Dance Pedagogy, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Classical Dance School, Moscow
Arsen Serobian was born in Armenia and trained at the Classical Dance School in Moscow, Russia as well as the Moscow Academy of Choreography (the Bolshoi). After graduation he moved to the United States, performing with companies including Indianapolis Ballet, State Street Ballet, San Francisco Dance Theatre, and Media City Ballet, and many more in roles for La Bayadere, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Le Corsair.
Arsen was awarded the prestigious 2004 Lester Horton Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Performance for his stunning portrayal of the leading role of Komitas in the Djanbazian Dance Company's critically acclaimed "Kroong Bnaver."
He has also earned a degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles as a professional actor and dancer, is a judge at the Youth Ballet Masters Competition, and works to prepare students for professional careers and competitions. Additionally, Arsen is the president and CEO of Dance Channel TV, Inc.
Faculty
upper division
classical
Inna Bayer
Founder, Artistic Director &
Instructor
EDUCATION
Master's Degree, Pedagogy
with Honors, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Voronezh State Academy of Arts
Inna Bayer is a master teacher of the Russian Vaganova Method of Classical Ballet and Character Dance with more than 13 years of experience as a professional dancer and 30 years of experience as a Ballet Mistress. Inna received a Master's Degree, with honors, in Pedagogy and Choreography from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow State Academy of Choreography). Inna received her Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, from the Voronezh State Academy of Arts. During her artistic career, Inna toured in France, Spain, Germany, and Poland. She performed as a Classical Ballet soloist in Kiev (Ukraine). This impressive career both informs her artistic and technical expertise.
Inna began her teaching career at Bat-Dor dance school where she taught Classical and Character Dance in 1992. Later, she moved to the United States to teach Character Dance at San Francisco Ballet School. From 2000 until the summer of 2007 Inna was Ballet mistress at Westlake School for the Performing Arts (Daly City, CA). During her tenure there she prepared students for many performances including Nutcracker, competitions, and recitals. Her final year included students participating triumphantly in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival (Scotland).
In 2002, American Dance Awards named Inna the "Choreographer of the Year" and in 2016 Miss Bayer was awarded, "Outstanding Teacher" at the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) in San Francisco.
Inna founded Bayer Ballet Academy in 2005 out of a passion for teaching the art of ballet to future generations. The school has been named "Outstanding School" by YAGP for six consecutive years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). Her students have received top honors, including Grand Prix and first prize, at international and regional competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), International Dance Challenge (IDC), World Ballet Competition (WBC) and American Dance Awards.
Bayer Ballet Academy students have been accepted into prestigious programs, including those of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, Paris Opera, American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet, Princess Grace Academy, and Bolshoi Ballet.
Inna's students from Israel and the United States have danced in European and American professional dance troupes such as: Mariinsky Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company (Israel), Ballet Israely (Israel), Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (Israel), Scottish Ballet (Scotland), Compania Nacional de Danza (Nacho Duato Artistic Director), State Ballet of Georgia, Alberta Ballet (Canada), Inbal Pinto Dance Company, Austin Ballet, Boston Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Eifman Ballet Saint Petersburg, Russia, Atlanta Ballet, Hrvatsko narodno kazalište HNK Split Balet / Croatian National Theater, State Ballet in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria and more.
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Tiit Helimets
Director, Male Dancer Program
Instructor, Classical
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Saint Mary's College
Master's Degree, Academy of Art University
Tallinn Ballet School
Tiit Helimets
As a Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet, Tiit Helimets has danced major roles in Tomasson’s Giselle (Albrecht), Nutcracker (Grand Pas de Deux Prince), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desiré), and Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried and Von Rothbart); Tomasson / Possokhov’s Don Quixote (Basilio); Cranko’s Onegin (Gremin); Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid (Prince, Poet); Scarlett’s Frankenstein (Alphonse Frankenstein); and Wheeldon’s Cinderella (Prince Gillaume). He created principal roles in Caniparoli’s Doublestop, Ibsen’s House, and Tears; King’s The Collective Agreement; Liang’s The Infinite Ocean; Possokhov’s Swimmer (Humbert); and Wheeldon’s Ghosts.
His repertory also includes Ashton’s Symphonic Variations; Balanchine’s Agon, Apollo, Allegro Brillante, Diamonds, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, Scotch Symphony, Serenade, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and Symphony in C; Bintley’s The Dance House; Bubeníček’s Gentle Memories; Forsythe’s in the middle, somewhat elevated; Liang’s Symphonic Dances; Lifar’s Suite en Blanc; MacMillan’s Winter Dreams; van Manen’s Variations for Two Couples; McGregor’s Borderlands, Chroma, and Eden/Eden; Millepied’s The Chairman Dances—Quartet for Two; Nureyev’s Raymonda—Act III; Possokhov’s Firebird and Magrittomania; Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons, Seven Sonatas, and Shostakovich Trilogy; Robbins’ Glass Pieces and In the Night; Tomasson’s 7 for Eight, The Fifth Season, On a Theme of Paganini, Prism, and Trio; and Wheeldon’s Continuum.
Before joining San Francisco Ballet, Tiit was a Principal Dancer with Birmingham Royal
Ballet and the Estonian National Ballet. Tiit made history in Estonia by being the youngest male dancer ever to perform the role of Siegfried in Swan Lake.
In 2011 Tiit formed a touring company Helimets and Co, in 2012 he created a
dance/music installation at the de Young Museum, and in 2013 he produced Estonian National Ballet’s San Francisco tour. He received an Isadora Duncan Dance Award for Outstanding Performance for his 2015 performances of Giselle and the Award for Outstanding Performance in Estonia for guest appearances in The Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet.
Stanislav Fečo
Instructor (remote), Pre-Professional
EDUCATION
Master of Arts & Bachelor of Arts, Choreography
Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, St. Petersburg
Stanislav Feco received his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Choreography from Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St.Petersburg. During his rich career he has received numerous honors and awards: Philip Morris Flower Ballet Award, Best Dancer in Czech Republic, US Pushkin Legacy Ballet Award, Interpretation of Role Onegin. Mr. Feco is the Official Ballet Master, Anton Dolin's Foundation and Director and Co-Founder of Petipa Heritage Foundation.
Principal Dancer credits include: Prague National Theatre, St.Petersburg Russian Ballet, National Theatre in Brno. Guest Principal Dancer: Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Azerbaijan National Ballet, State Ballet in Kazan, and National Opera Donetsk.
With Vasily Medvedev, Mr. Feco has served as a dancer, assistant and choreographer with the following companies: Bolshoi Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Lithuanian National Ballet, Compañía Nacional de Danza in Mexico, Czech National Ballet, Croatian National Ballet, Romanian National Opera, Slovak National Ballet, National Ballet of Panama, Macedonian National Ballet,
National Ballet of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Great Theatre Lodz, Ekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre, Vanemuine Ballet Estonia , and Perm Ballet.
COLLABORATIONS with famous ballerinas from major ballet companies include: G.Mezentseva,Y.Makhalina,L.Kunakova,T.Terekhova ,S.Gumerova (Mariinsky Ballet),
D.Klimentova,E.Glurdzhidze (English National Ballet), L.Lezhnina (Het National Ballet Amsterdam), A.Volochkova (Bolshoi Ballet), N.Sologub (Semperoper Dresden), and J.Kurova ,H.Vlacilova (Prague National Theatre).
Mr. Feco has participated at prestigious international ballet galas such as Gala des Etoiles in Montreal,Dance Open in St.Petersburg,Gala Due Mondi in Spoleto,World Ballet Stars in Seoul .World Ballet Festival in Kiev.
Olga Voloboueva
Guest Faculty, Classical
EDUCATION
Teaching Diploma, Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, St. Petersburg
Teachers: N. Kurgapkina, N. Serebryannikov, B. Ratchinskay, M. Daukaev, I. Gensler, N. Yananis
Olga Voloboueva graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 1989, class of professor N. Kurgapkina, at which time she embarked on her professional career with the Kirov Ballet (Mariinsky Ballet) . Her expansive performing career highlights include solo and principal roles, full repertoire with the following ballet companies: Kirov Ballet / Mariinsky /, St. Petersburg; Colorado Ballet, USA; Royal Ballet of Flanders, Belgium; and Ballet Victor Ullate. Ms. Voloboueva performed as a guest artist with the following companies: San Francisco Opera Ballet, USA; Setsuko Itchikawa Ballet, Japan; and Arlington Ballet, USA. She also had the opportunity to tour England, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, Scotland, Belgium, and France, to name a few.
Lead Soloist and Principal Roles
Mariinsky Theatre (Kirov Ballet) - soloist
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La Bayadere - Nikiya, Gamzatti
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Nutcracker - Masha
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Giselle - Giselle
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Swan Lake - Odetta, Odile
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La Sylphide – Sylphide
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Chopeniana (Les Sylphides) - Waltz, Mazurka
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Stone Flower - Hostess of the Copper Mountain
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Esmeralda – Pas de deux
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Don Quixote – Pas de deux
Colorado Ballet:
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Romeo and Juliet - Juliet
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Sleeping Beauty - Princes Aurora
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Esmeralda - Diana and Acteon - Pas de deux
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Serenada - Dark Angel / Balanchine
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Rubies - Soloist / Balancine
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Western Symphony – Pas de deux
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Stars and Stripes – Second Movement / Balanchine
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Configurations / Choo San Goh
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A Midsummer Night's Dream / Christopher Wheeldon
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River / Alvin Ailey
Royal Ballet of Flanders:
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Nutcracker – Clara
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Sleeping Beauty
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Giselle – Giselle, Mirta
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La Bayadere - Nikiya, Gamzatti
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Impressing The Czar / W.Forsythe
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Ancient Air and Dances / R.Tanner
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In The Middle / W.Forsythe
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Swan Lake / J.Fabre
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Encounters / C.Pastor
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In The Night / J.Robbins
During her professional career Ms. Voloboueva has worked with : N. Kurgapkina, T. Terehova, N. Bolshakova, O. Vinogradov, M. Fredman, Poul Mejia, Robert Denvers, Christopher Wheeldon, Victoria Morgan, Victoria Simon,W.Forsythe, J.Fabre, E. Evteeva, M. Daukaev, I. Kolpakova, O. Vinogradov, Menia Martinez, Daniel Job, Christine Redpath. Partners included: Andris Liepa, Farukh. Ruzimatov, Makhar. Vaziev, Igor Zelensky, Alexsander Vetrov Wim Vanlessen, Melis Pakri, Priit Kripson, Stefan jon Wise and many others.
Olga danced in the film, "The Little Humpback Horse." She also participated in significant competitions and festivals, including the First International Dance Festival in Miami, USA; Dance Aspen Festival, Colorado, USA; Golden Ballet Stars Gala in Tokyo, Japan; Stars of the White Nights, Russia; Classical Ballet Festival named after Rudolf Nureyev, Russia; First Vaganova Ballet competition – diploma of the 1st degree, Russia; and In memory of Rudolf Nureyev Ballet competition – diploma, Hungary.
Ms. Voloboueva has served as an international guest teacher at Vaganova Ballet Academy, Ballet West - Scotland, Universal Ballet - South Korea, Yantra Ballet - Belgium, Ballet Ruso Barcelona.
Oksana Vasileva
Instructor, Classical
EDUCATION
Master's Degree, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, St. Petersburg, Certifications in the Elementary Level, Preparatory Process, Teacher Training, Preservation and Development of the Vaganova Method
Academy of Russian Ballet, St. Petersburg, Certification in the Junior & Middle Levels of the Vaganova Method
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Moscow Institute of Contemporary Art, Ballet Teacher & Choreographer
Ledyakh School of Classical Ballet,
Ballet Dancer
Oksana Vasileva graduated from the Ledyakh School of Classical Ballet in Moscow, where she earned her degree as a Ballet Dancer. From 1996-2008, she performed with the Moscow State Theater of Classical Choreography, performing a diverse classical
ballet repertoire and contemporary works, including participation in the Stanton Welsh's production of "Green" (2000), alongside with the stars of Bolshoi Ballet Nina Ananiashvili, Sergey Filin, Dmitry Belogolovtsev.
In 2002 Oksana graduated with BFA from the Moscow Institute of Contemporary Art's as a
Ballet Teacher & Choreographer. In 2011 she trained at the Academy of Russian Ballet named after A. Y. Vaganova in St. Petersburg, earning certificate of "Training of the elementary level and the preparatory process of learning classical ballet", and in 2014 she attended teachers training program: "Preservation and development of the methodology of A. Y. Vaganova." Also, Oksana completed a two-year professional training at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, earning her Master's Degree in 2016. She continued her advance ballet teacher training in 2017 at the Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg in the program: "Preservation and development of methods of teaching classical ballet at junior and middle levels."
Oksana Vasilieva joins Bayer Ballet with extensive teaching and coaching experience in all levels from Junior through Pre-Professional. Ms. Oksana has conducted four State Graduation Exams (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018.) Her students successfully participated at prestigious Ballet Competitions, including 2nd Place at the International Competition "Dance Moscow"and 1st Place in Pas De Deux category at YAGP Paris. Ms. Oksana was recognized by The Russian Ministry of Culture State Commissioner for excellence in ballet education.
contemporary
Laura O'Malley
Instructor, Contemporary
Instructor, Gyrokinesis
EDUCATION
Kirov Academy of Ballet Washington, D.C., Full Scholarship & Recipient of President’s Awards
Laura O'Malley was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and trained on full scholarship at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. Laura went on to dance professionally at globally renowned companies such as the Boston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and Stuttgart Ballet, where she was promoted to soloist. In 2012, Laura was invited to dance for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, which eventually led to her tenure with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. In 2017 Laura joined SFDanceworks, where she later also choreographed and became co-director.
As a performer, Laura was lauded for her interpretations in dozens of soloist and principal roles including title roles in “Giselle”, “La Sylphide”, “Lulu”. She originated roles in creations by Douglas Lee, Wayne McGregor, Mauro Bigonzetti, Alejandro Cerrudo, Christian Spuck, Krzyztof Pastor, Bridget Breiner, Alonzo King, and Danielle Rowe, and performed work by acclaimed choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Marco Goecke, Hans van Manen, Jorma Elo, Twyla Tharp, and Martha Graham.
Having had the unparalleled experience of collaborating with so many innovators, Laura takes great pride in sharing her knowledge as a facilitator, creator, and educator with Lines ballet’s education programs. Work that led her to serve as the rehearsal director for Lines Ballet from 2021-2022.
In 2022, Laura committed fully to pursuing her own choreographic career. Laura has had works commissioned by American Ballet Theater’s choreographic incubator project, and was a finalist at the 2019 Palm Desert Choreography Festival. Laura’s work was referred to as “promising” by Rachel Howard, for her highly regarded 2nd commission for SFDanceworks.
Laura is an Adjunct Professor at Dominican University of California and certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Trainer.
Erin (Armstrong) Micek has been instructing students of all ages in classical ballet for 12 years. She received her ballet training from Houston Ballet Academy under directors Clara Cravey and Steve Brule, Ballet Idaho Academy of Dance, and from renowned coaches such as Maria T. Vegh, former co-director of Harkness House in New York City. Erin has performed professionally with the Eugene Ballet Company/Ballet Idaho, Drop Dance Collective, the Margaret Wingrove Dance Company and multiple independent choreographers, performing various classical, contemporary and modern dance roles. Some of her former students have been accepted as students at prestigious schools throughout the country or moved on to professional careers of their own in ballet and modern companies. As she teaches and choreographs, Erin continues to work at instilling both the discipline and the love of the art of ballet into the lives of her students.
Erin (Armstrong) Micek
Instructor, Contemporary
EDUCATION
Master's Degree, Language Interpretation & Translation, University of Texas
Bachelor's Degree, Political Economy, Spanish, College of Idaho
Adji Cissoko
Guest Faculty, Contemporary
EDUCATION
Diploma, Dance, Ballet Academy Munich
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, New York City
Adji Cissoko was born and grew up in Munich, Germany where she trained at the Ballet Academy Munich and graduated with a diploma in dance. Cissoko attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York City on full scholarship.
Cissoko joined the National Ballet of Canada in 2010. In 2012 she was awarded the Patron Award of Merit by the Patrons’ Council Committee of The National Ballet of Canada.
In 2014, Cissoko joined LINES Ballet, during which time she’s originated many central roles and guested for galas worldwide. Cissoko has given multiple masterclasses and taught classes around the world as part of the company’s outreach program.
In 2020 she became certified in health/life coaching as well as in ABT’s National Training Curriculum.
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WATCH VIDEO of Adji teaching at Bayer Ballet. Students learn contemporary phrases and improvisation, explore personal interpretation of the movement and musicality. These skills are essential, as many professional companies require improvisation during auditions.
Faculty
pre-ballet division
Christina Kongaika
Director & Instructor, Pre-Ballet
EDUCATION
Teaching Certificate, All Levels
Teacher Certification Program,
Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Christina Kongaika began dancing at age 3, training at Westlake School of the Performing Arts (WSPA) for 14 years. Under the instruction of Inna Bayer, Malu Rivera-Peoples, and Cristina Fargas she rose to the rank of principal dancer, performing various leading roles in ballets, including the Sugar Plum Fairy in the WSPA dance company's "Nutcracker". As a member of WSPA's performance program, Christina has performed both locally, nationally and internationally.
She studied in a wide array of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, character, hip-hop, hula and Tahitian styles. A respected dancer among her peers, Christina was voted WSPA's Outstanding Student of the Year at both the Junior and Senior levels. In 2004 Christina was awarded 2nd place for her performance of a contemporary solo at the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP). This same year she was runner-up for Dancer of the Year at the American Dance Awards (ADA).
Christina began training to become a dance teacher at age 12 by volunteering as a teacher's aide at WSPA. In the summer of 2006, Christina was hired to teach ballet-tap and hula classes to the younger students at WSPA. While continuing to teach and dance for WSPA Christina attended San Francisco School of the Arts High School. Here she received additional dance training and graduated in 2008. Christina has completed all levels of the official Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification Program. Christina's repertoire includes variations and excerpts from classical ballets, such as "La Bayadère", "Sleeping Beauty", "Le Corsaire", "Don Quixote", "Paquita" and "Nutcracker"
Dawn Sue
Pre-Ballet Instructor
EDUCATION
Teaching Certificate, Pre-Ballet Certification & First Year Level 1 Certification, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Irine Fokine
Joffrey Ballet School, Trainee Program
Princeton Ballet School
Cornell University, Government & Sociology
Dawn Sue started her early ballet training with Irine Fokine in Ridgewood, NJ. She then went on to train at the Joffrey Ballet School in the trainee program. Following her studies in Government and Sociology at Cornell University, she trained at the Princeton Ballet School with Douglas Martin, Mary Barton and Kyra Nichols.
She was then invited to dance with the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ. Among her favorite ballets she performed with ARB, were Romeo and Juliet, Serenade, Paquita and Midsummer Night's Dream. Dawn started her teaching career at Princeton Dance and Theater under the ownership of Susan Jaffe (upon her retirement from ABT) and Risa Kaplowitz (of Houston, Dayton and Pennsylvania Ballet). She has experience teaching all ages from 5 through adult and is passionate about instilling a love for the art form while developing the proper muscular development in ballet technique.
Sasha Smirnova
Pre-Ballet Instructor
EDUCATION
Master’s Degree, Physical Education,
Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (SCOLIPE),
Bachelor’s Degree, Physical Education,
Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank
Sasha Smirnova is an accomplished ballet teacher with an extensive background in both performance and education. With 15 years of teaching experience and 11 years as a performer in a prestigious dance company in Minsk, Belarus, Sasha brings a wealth of expertise and artistry. Her journey in the world of dance began when she was 6 years old in Minsk, Belarus, where she was born and raised. At the age of 13 she became a part of a dance group that performed in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. In 2012, Aliaksandra graduated from the Belarusian State Pedagogical University with a Bachelor Degree in Physical Education. Seeking to deepen her knowledge and broaden her horizons, Sasha furthered her education in Moscow, where she obtained a Master's degree from a renowned Sport University. In 2016, she embarked on an exciting new chapter, relocating to San Jose, California, where she continued her teaching career in the Bay Area.
Sasha's diverse educational background and international experience have shaped her approach to teaching pre ballet. She seamlessly combines her deep understanding of technique, pedagogy, and artistic expression to provide her students with well-rounded and comprehensive training. Her classes are known for their precision, attention to detail, and nurturing environment that fosters growth and creativity. Sasha's dedication to her students' development and her passion for the art of ballet make her an exceptional mentor, guiding aspiring dancers on a path of excellence and self-discovery.
Sasha's wealth of teaching experience, combined with her international perspective, brings a unique and dynamic energy to our dance community. Through her expertise, guidance, and unwavering commitment, Sasha empowers her students to realize their full potential as dancers.
Sydney Strong received her formal ballet training at Tarrant County College in Hurst, Texas under the direction of Dr. Kihyoung Choi. There she danced with Dr.Choi’s semi-professional company, Movers Unlimited Dance Company.
Miss Sydney apprenticed for Dallas Neoclassical Ballet (now American Neoclassical Ballet) for one season before deciding to further her dance education at The Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, where she graduated in 2020.
Post graduation, Miss Sydney joined San Jose Dance Theatre as a Trainee, during which time she had the opportunity to choreograph two short ballets as well as dance in soloist roles in their production of, “The Nutcracker.”
Sydney Strong
Pre-Ballet Instructor
EDUCATION
Teaching Certificate, Pre-Ballet Certification,
Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Joffrey Ballet School, New York City (2020)
Tarrant College, Hurst, TX
Juliet Sostena
Pre-Ballet Instructor
EDUCATION
Teaching Certificate, Pre-Ballet Certification, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Bayer Ballet Academy
Juliet Sostena received her formal Vaganova training from Bayer Ballet Academy, where she is currently a member of the Pre-Professional division. Miss Juliet performed roles such as the Snow Queen in the ballet The Snow Queen, Diana in Awakening of Flora, and Chamomile in The Rose and the Butterfly. She has received top competition awards, including Top 12 in the Classical and Contemporary categories at YAGP San Francisco.
In her last year of high school at The Nueva School in San Mateo, Miss Juliet explores her passion for Biology. She has published, researched, and presented at American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference in Philadelphia. This summer she interned at a Stanford lab through the highly-selective SIMR program. SIMR is a highly competitive 8-week research program held annually for approximately 50 students from the United States. It’s considered to be one of the most prestigious summer internships in the country with an acceptance rate of 4-6%.
Her experience in ballet has taught her skills in time management and dedication which support her academic goals and achievements. Miss Juliet is a wonderful example that it is possible to achieve successful balance between a rigorous academic schedule and pre-professional ballet training.
Miss Juliet has found a passion for teaching young children, creating a fun and disciplined classroom setting for them to grow, and gain confidence and self-esteem through the beautiful art of ballet.
Maya Ma
Pre-Ballet Instructor
EDUCATION
Teaching Certificate, Pre-Ballet Certification, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Bayer Ballet Academy
Maya Ma is a Pre-Professional division dancer at Bayer Ballet Academy. She performed roles of Fireflies and Garden Enchantress in the ballet The Snow Queen, Violets and Fuchsia in The Rose and the Butterfly. She has participated in competitions, including YAGP San Francisco 2022 and California Dance Classics San Francisco 2022, where she received the Honorable Mention award in the classical category.
During the summer of 2022, Maya attended multiple coding courses and went to CVPR New Orleans for an educational meeting for computer vision where she met with college professors, PhD students, computer scientists and more.
As a student and teacher, Maya has gained a unique perspective on the value of arts education. Her experience in ballet has taught her a lot about trust, passion, time management, and perseverance which helped her through academia and her personal life.
Prior to teaching her own classes, Maya served as an Assistant Teacher to the Director of Bayer Ballet's Pre-Ballet Division, during which time she discovered an interest in teaching and creating a safe and fun space for children to learn ballet and inspire them to follow their passion and grow.
MUSIC
Vadim Rivkin was born in Leningrad (presently Saint Petersburg), Russia. He graduated from the Leningrad N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory with a degree in composition, and has been a member of the USSR Composer's Union since 1976.
Vadim has been teaching music for grades 1-5 in the Stratford School since his move to the United States in 2003.
Vadim Rivkin
Pianist
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Composition
Leningrad N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
health & wellness
physical therapy
injury prevention
Dr. Lauren Mindel, DPT Born and raised in California, Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California prior to earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from UC San Francisco and San Francisco State University. She is especially fond of utilizing the Sahmann approach and Functional Manual Therapy techniques she has learned through continuing education courses with the Institute of Physical Art.
Prior to becoming a physical therapist, Lauren danced professionally and taught dance to all ages. She has been recognized for her artistry and choreography, and she continues to teach and create.
Lauren Mindel
Doctor of Physical Therapy
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Performing Arts, St. Mary's College
Doctorate, Physical Therapy, UC San Francisco
San Francisco State University
Continuing Education, Institute of Physical Art
master
classes
We are dedicated to providing year-round opportunities for emerging artists in our community to engage, educate and collaborate with world-renowned master artists.
PAST MASTER CLASSES
Yuri FATEEV, Dir. Mariinsky
Selyutsky Gennady NAUMOVICH, Ballet Master, Choreographer, Mariinsky
Margarita YUSIM, Bolshoi Ballet
Veronika PART, ABT
Alexei MOSKALENKO, Assist. Dir. YAGP
Misha TCHOUPAKOV, Assoc. Professor, UNCSA, YAGP Judge, Rehearsal Director, Judge
Karine PLANTADIT, Tony Award-nominee, former soloist, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, YAGP Judge
Adji CISSOKO, Lines Ballet
...and many more
ADMINISTRATION
