Please note that the BBASI Program is currently on pause.
Dedicated to bringing unique opportunities to student dancers throughout the US and beyond, ASE is pleased to announce - for the first time ever in the US - John Cranko School Summer Intensive NY & CT (July 22 - Aug 9, 2024). While upholding excellence in Vaganova technique training, the SI will also uniquely introduce student ballet dancers to classical, Cranko neoclassical, and contemporary ballet repertoires. We invite you to explore the program here.
Dean of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy
Marina Leonova
Dean of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy of Moscow, Artistic Director of BBASI Programs, and Master Teacher of Classical Dance, Ms. Leonova began her ballet career at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Having the distinction of one of the most distinguished graduates of Mme. Sofia Golovkina, Ms. Leonova was invited to join the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Theatre Company right after graduation and was soon promoted to Prima Ballerina. During her career, Ms. Leonova starred in productions at the Bolshoi and worldwide, including Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake," Giselle and Myrtha in "Giselle," the Lilac Fairy in "The Sleeping Beauty," and Aegina in "Spartacus."
Program Faculty
Elena Bobrova
Upon graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Ms. Bobrova joined the Bolshoi Ballet Theatre. She performed with the Bolshoi for 22 years, including the company's acclaimed productions: "Swan Lake," "The Nutcracker," "Sleeping Beauty," "La Bayadere," "Don Quixote," "Giselle," "Spartacus," and "Romeo and Juliet". Among Ms. Bobrova's student alumni are: M. Kotchetkova, K. Kretova, L. Konovalova, and J. Womack, the first American student accepted to the Bolshoi Company.
Olga Dozortseva
Ms. Dozortseva graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy as a student of Ms. Leonova, current Dean of the Academy. She was invited as a soloist to Moscow’s State Theater of Classical Ballet of N. Kasatkinoi and V. Vasiliev. There she performed leading parts in "Giselle," "Swan Lake" and other prominent ballets. Ms. Dozorseva is a highly respected teacher at the Academy and her students consistently graduate with high marks in all ballet subjects.
Georgii Gusev
After graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Georgii Gusev had a distinguished performing career, dancing leading roles in over 50 ballets including his famous solos in “Anna Karenina” and “Bacchus and Ariadne” on the stage of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Theatre. Since 2005, Mr. Gusev has been a Master Teacher at the Academy’s Department of Classical Dance and Pas de Deux. In addition, he has choreographed 6 ballets and over 40 performances.
Svetlana Ivanova
Svetlana Ivanova graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and was immediately invited to the Bolshoi Theatre Company. Her performing career with the Bolshoi spanned 20 years, many of them as a soloist. Today Ms. Ivanova is the Chair of Folk, Scenic and Historical Dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Svetlana Ivanova has extensive experience with staging classical, character and modern dance and in 2013 received her Phd in Pedagogical Sciences.
Mikhail Sharkov
Mikhail Sharkov was accepted to the Bolshoi Ballet Theatre Company immediately after graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 1979. Mr. Sharkov is a recipient of the title of Honorary Artist of the Russian Federation and a senior instructor of classical dance and duet at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Mr. Sharkov has starred in numerous ballets during his career including “Giselle,” “The Nutcracker,” where danced the role of the prince, “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Swan Lake,” where he danced the role of the jester.
Ekaterina Trunina
Ms. Trunina is a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, having trained under some of its leading pedagogues such as: Madame M.K. Leonova, Natalia Revich, Irina Syrova, and others. Upon her graduation she was accepted as a soloist to the acclaimed Stanislavski Danchenko Theatre in Moscow, where she performed extensively in its repertoire in Russia and abroad including: Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Giselle, La Esmeralda, Chopiniana, Don Quixote and many others. Ms. Trunina returned to the Academy as faculty in 2015.
Vera Kulikova
Vera Kulikova graduated from the Voronezh School of Choreography with a specialty of Artist of Ballet in 1969, and was immediately invited to join the Voronezh Theatre of Opera and Ballet. She received a teacher’s degree from the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg and also from Russia's Academy of Theatre Arts. Ms. Kulikova has been teaching at the Academy since 1980 and was recently designated as the Head of the Academy's Department of Classical Dance.
Sergei Orekhov
After graduating from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 1991, Sergei Orekhov joined the Theater of Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko. There, he performed for over 20 years, dancing leading roles in productions including “Swan Lake,” “Le Corsaire,” and “The Snow Maiden.” Following his performing career, Mr. Orekhov was invited to teach at the Academy and has also led master classes around the world including in Italy, Korea, China, Brazil and Cyprus.
Natalya Revich
Natalya Revich has been a professor of Classical Dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 1988 and plays a leading role in the staging of all productions that appear on the Bolshoi stage and other leading stages of Russia. After graduating from the Academy, Ms. Revich joined the Stanislavsky Theatre as a soloist where she performed in many ballets including “Swan Lake,” “Paquita,” and “Don Quixote” on the famous stages of Russia, Germany, Belgium, Japan, and many other countries.
Nika Sergeeva
Nika Sergeeva graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy with Honors as a Teacher-Choreographer in 2004. Since then, she has been teaching at the Academy and participating in numerous international projects, including staging“The Art of Fugue,” choreographed by David Bamban (Grand Prix Belua de la Don) with music by J.S.Bach, which debuted at the Bolshoi Theater in 2007. Sergeeva’s students have been accepted to the Bolshoi Ballet Theatre Company and others.