Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teachers
Marina Leonova
Head of the Program and Master Teacher of Classical Dance, a 1969 graduate of Mme. Sofia Golovkina at the the Bolshoi Ballet Academy who was invited to join the famous Bolshoi Ballet company right after graduation, and was soon promoted to one of company's prima ballerinas. During her dancing career she has been seen in the leading parts at the Bolshoi and worldwide, including Odette/Odile in The Swan Lake, Giselle and Mirtha in Giselle, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Aegina in Spartacus among others. As a performer Ms. Leonova has collaborated with Elizaveta Gerdt, Raissa Struchkova, Yuri Grigorovich and other leading choreographers and ballet coaches. She began her teaching career at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy while still dancing at the Bolshoi. In 1991 she received her MFA cum laude from the School of Choreography at the State Institute of Performing Arts (GITIS) where she studied under legendary prima ballerina, Ms. Marina Semenova. A professor of classical dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 1998, Ms. Leonova has represented Russia at some of the most prestigious international ballet competitions and has taught courses and master classes worldwide. She became Dean of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 2002 and is the recipient of numerous prestigious national and international awards, including the highest honorary title of People's Artist of Russia in 2003.
Irina Sirova
Acting Professor, Deputy Chair of the Classical Female Dance Department of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. In 1971-1975 Ms. Syrova was a soloist of the Perm Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre. Since 1979 she has taught classical dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and has given master classes and participated in Academy's tours in Belarus, Germany, Greece, Japan, Namibia, Norway, South Africa and the United States.
Svetlana Ivanova
Chair of Folk, Scenic and Historical Dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Svetlana Ivanova has extensive experience with staging classical and modern dance. She was accepted to the Bolshoi Ballet Company immediately after graduating from the Bolshoi Academy in 1978 and has been a soloist since 1996.
Valery Anisimov
Associate Professor of Men's Classical Dance, Valery Asimov studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy from 1965 to 1977. After graduation he was immediately accepted in to the Bolshoi Theatre where he partnered with legendary dancers like Ekaterina Maksimova, Natalia Bessmertnova and Marina Leonova. Professor Asmiov toured extensively with the Bolshoi Company around the world before he began his teaching career at the Academy. He became a laureate of the International Contest of Ballet Artists in 1977 and was named a People's Artist of Russia in 1997.
Natalia Arkhipova
Senior Professor of Women’s Classical Dance, Laureate of the International Competition of Ballet Artists. Ms. Arkhipova graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 1981 under the pedagogy of L.I. Bogomolova-Nikonova. That same year she was awarded the gold medal at the International Competition of Ballet Artists in Moscow. From 1981-1996 she was a member of the Bolshoi Theatre company. After leaving the Bolshoi Theatre in 1996, she continued to play major roles in the Grigorovich-Ballet repertoire theatre. She has toured around the world, including in Japan, Australia, Germany and the United States to name a few. Ms. Arkhipova has taught at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 2002 and in 2005, she received her specialization in Choreographic Pedagogy. She has extensive experience choreographing Bolshoi Ballet Academy gala performances and also preparing students for international competitions. Her former students include Chinara Alizade, Anna Tikhomirova and Natalia Vorontsova.
Andrei Kisselev
Camp Director, received his diploma from the Russian Conservatory of Culture and Art. He then joined the world renowned Moyseev Dance Company where he became a principal dancer and instructor. Mr. Kisselev joined Riverdance and for the next four years he performed with this international hit show as it toured all over America, Canada, England , Ireland, Germany and Belgium. The show culminated in a highly successful two-year residence on Broadway. Kisselev has taught at a variety of studios and camps throughout the U.S.
Yanna Volkova
Assistant Camp Director
