Arsen Serobian
Instructor, Male Dancer Program
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.
Tatiana Ulitina
Instructor, Classical
EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree, Pedagogy Degree of Classical Dance, Character Dance and Historical Dance, Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, St. Petersburg
Tatiana Ulitina, born in Leningrad, Russia, graduated from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg under professor Natalia Dudinskaya. Ms Ulitina then danced with Mikhailovsky Ballet (Leningrad Maly Theatre Ballet), performing many lead roles and touring the world.
In 2003, Ms Ulitina received her Pedagogy Degree of Classical Dance, Character Dance, and Historical Dance from the Vaganova Ballet Academy.
From 2002 - 2012, Ms Ulitina then taught classical dance at the Vaganova Ballet Academy.
In 2016-2017, Ms Ulitina taught classical dance at the Boris Eifman Dance Academy in Saint Petersburg.
Some of her students went on to dance as principals and soloists at companies such as Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Theatre Ballet, Eifman Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and National Opera-Budapest.
Giana Jigarhan
Instructor, Classical
EDUCATION
Graduate, Ballet Instructor and Choreographer, Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Professor Marina Semyonova
Master's Degree, Ballet Instruction, Choreography and Stage Production, Moscow University of Theatre Arts
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Russian Professional Art Association
Giana Jigarhan, is a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and
received a Masters Degree in Ballet Instruction, Choreography and Stage Production
from the prestigious Moscow University of Theatre Arts having studied with Professor
Marina Semyonova. She also trained for two years as a Ballet Instructor and
Choreographer at the Bolshoi Theater and is a member of the Russian Professional Art
Association.
Ms. Jigarhan was a soloist ballet dancer for fourteen years with the Novosibirsk Ballet
Theater (Siberian Bolshoi). Her repertoire included the most famous classical ballets such
as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Giselle, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, La
Corsaire, Raymonda, as well as ballets by the most prestigious modern Russian
choreographers.
In the former USSR, Asia and Europe, Ms. Jigarhan’s choreographic credits include
ballets Paquita, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Bakhiana Brasiliana by Villa Lobos,
Raymonda, La Bayadere, numerous concert pieses and dances for operas Aida and
Rigoletto. She has coached both students and artists for ballet competitions and
performances.
Ms. Jigarhan has taught ballet and coached at many well known institutions including:
Moscow Musical Theater, the Polish National Ballet School, Polish National Ballet
Theatre, Asami Maki Ballet Company in Japan, Star Dance Ballet, Japan; Prague
National Theater, National Theater of Korea, Universal Ballet Company in Korea,
EWHA University Dance Department in Korea, Washington School of Ballet, Kirov
Ballet Academy, Tulsa Ballet, Towson University, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, the
Peabody Institute Dance Department at Johns Hopkins University, where she
choreographed an original version of the full length ballet Coppelia. In 2008, she began
working at the Academy of Colorado Ballet, official school of Colorado Ballet Company,
as a Principal ballet instructor for 6 years.
In 2011, she was invited by the American School of Ballet to attend the national
teachers weekend celebrating the top teachers in the country. She was 1 of 14
selected.
From 2013 to 2020, Ms. Jigarhan served as the Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s
Principal Ballet Teacher.
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
-
Swan Lake - Odetta, Odile
-
La Sylphide – Sylphide
-
Chopeniana (Les Sylphides) - Waltz, Mazurka
-
Stone Flower - Hostess of the Copper Mountain
-
Esmeralda – Pas de deux
-
Don Quixote – Pas de deux
Colorado Ballet:
-
Romeo and Juliet - Juliet
-
Sleeping Beauty - Princes Aurora
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Esmeralda - Diana and Acteon - Pas de deux
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Serenada - Dark Angel / Balanchine
-
Rubies - Soloist / Balancine
-
Western Symphony – Pas de deux
-
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
-
Sleeping Beauty
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Giselle – Giselle, Mirta
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La Bayadere - Nikiya, Gamzatti
-
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
-
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.
contemporary
Erin (Armstrong) Micek
Instructor, Contemporary
EDUCATION
Master's Degree, Language Interpretation & Translation, University of Texas
Bachelor's Degree, Political Economy, Spanish, College of Idaho
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Nueva High School
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.
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
