Faculty
Marina Osipova,
Ph.D.
Founder & Artistic Director
Marina Osipova, Ph.D. - is a Russian ballet instructor, choreographer, and artistic director with 18 years of professional classical ballet dance experience. Marina holds Ph.D. in Methodology of Teaching Classical Dance from the world famous and most prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy. She is a member of the International Dance Council (UNESCO). With over 23 years of teaching experience as an instructor of classical dance at the Vaganova Ballet Academy and as a Deputy Artistic Director, Head of the Department of Classical Dance at the Boris Eifman Dance Academy, Ms. Osipova has been playing a critical role in developing dance instruction all over the world. Marina is the author of methodology manuals and numerous scientific articles on classical dance, including her latest book: “Professional Training of Future Ballet Dancers to Perform Allegro”.
Tatiana Ulitina
Classical & Character Dance Instructor
Tatiana Ulitina was born in Leningrad, Russia. She received her training at the prestigious Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia graduating from the class of the legendary professor Natalia Dudinskaya who was a student of Agrippina Vaganova herself. Soon after graduating, Ms. Tatiana danced with The Leningrad Maly Theatre Ballet, presently known as the Mikhailovsky Ballet Theatre, performing ballet lead roles and touring all over the world. In 2003, Ms. Tatiana graduated from the Pedagogical Department of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (class of professor Liudmila Safronova) as a teacher of Classical Dance, Character Dance, and Historical Dance. From 2002-2012, Ms. Ulitina was a teacher at the Classical Dance Department at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. During the years of 2016-2017, Ms. Ulitina taught at the Boris Eifman Dance Academy as a teacher of Classical Dance. Her students went on to dance at some of the world's most renowned stages & theaters such as the Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Eifman Ballet, National Opera of Budapest & The Joffrey Ballet; to name a few. Ms. Ulitina's students include - Olga Smirnova (Prima Ballerina of Dutch National Ballet, Former Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Russia), Maria llyushkina (First Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre), Anastasia Lukina (Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre), Vlada Borodulina (Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre), Nika Tskhvitaria (Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre), Alisa Rusina (Soloist of Character Dance at the Mariinsky Theatre) & many more. Ms. Tatiana’s students won top prizes at international and national competitions, including YAGP and California Dance Classics. Ms. Tatiana is well respected & loved by all her students. She has changed & touched the lives of many young dancers on their ways to becoming professional dancers.
Giana Jigarhan
Classical & Character Dance Instructor
Giana Jigarhan is a highly accomplished Ballet Instructor and Choreographer, renowned for her exceptional talent and extensive experience in the world of ballet. Giana is a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and received her 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, Le 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 pieces 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, 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.
Throughout her career, Giana Jigarhan has earned numerous accolades and honors. Notably, she was one of the few distinguished ballet instructors invited to attend the prestigious American School of Ballet's National Teachers Weekend, where she was one of fourteen teachers recognized for her exceptional contributions to the field.
Anastasia Pavlova
Classical, Contemporary & Character Dance Instructor
Anastasia was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where her journey into the world of sports began at a tender age. Introduced to ice skating at four, she swiftly transitioned to gymnastics before discovering her true passion in ballet at nine. Following the successful completion of the two-year preparatory ballet program, Anastasia was admitted to the professional training program at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy.
Throughout her academic journey, Anastasia pursued additional education at the Finnish National Opera Ballet School, culminating in her graduation with honors after a successful exchange year. She completed her bachelor's degree at the Vaganova Ballet Academy under the mentorship of Nikolay Tsiskaridze, graduating from the class of Yulia Kasenkova in 2019.
Alongside her formal education, Anastasia performed on renowned stages such as the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky theatres (Saint-Petersburg, Russia). In her final years, she was invited to join the Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre of Konstantin Tachkin, performing on stages not only in Saint Petersburg, Russia but also around the world, including the Mikhailovsky Theatre, Aleksandrynsky Theatre, Heritage Theatre, London Coliseum and Theatre des Champs-Elysees.
Joining Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet as a trainee marked a new chapter in Anastasia's career, touring in the USA for the first time. She continued to collaborate with ballet companies globally, performing on prestigious stages across the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Finland, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, and the United States. One of Anastasia's significant engagements took place in the United States, where she joined the World Ballet Series ballet company. Throughout her contract with WBS, Anastasia’s artistic contributions extended beyond performances as she not only performed as a dancer but also conducted classes and rehearsals with company members.
In 2020, Anastasia returned to her roots in Saint Petersburg, Russia, embracing contemporary dance with the Kononov Concept while also dedicating herself to teaching. With a commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers, she shares her expertise in ballet technique, repertoire, character dance, stretching and Pilates with students of all ages. Anastasia also completed official Pilates training during this period.
In 2022, Anastasia went on a transformative journey to Costa Rica, where she led ballet masterclasses and portrayed the role of Aurora with the Nacional Ballet de Costa Rica in "Sleeping Beauty."
Ms. Anastasia’s students won top prizes at international and national competitions, including YAGP and California Dance Classics.
Maria Pereverzeva
Pre-Ballet Instructor
Maria Pereverzeva started studying ballet at just three years old. She trained in the Russian Vaganova method in the Bay Area under professionals such as Ivan Goliandin and Marina Osipova, and also spent her summers training in Russia. Maria Pereverzeva’s passion lies in teaching and has many years of experience working with children. She has taken courses in psychology with an emphasis in early child development, and she’s continuing furthering her education in Vaganova methodology pre-ballet training through different online and in-person courses. Maria holds a Teaching Certificate from Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow, Russia) in First Year ( Level 1 ) Methodology. Ms. Maria’s students won top prizes at California Dance Classics competition. Maria is currently a student at San José State University.
Marianna Lobanova
Classical & Character Dance Instructor
Guest Teacher/Consultant
Marianna has over 23 years of experience teaching classical dance. She received her education at the Saratov Choreographic School. In 1980, she graduated from the Pedagogical Department of the Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy. In 2000 The Russian Federation Ministry of Culture awarded Marianna Lobanova work the "For Achievements in the Sphere of Culture" Order.
For more than 17 years Marianna danced at the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ukraine). Her repertoire included solo parts in the ballets "Swan Lake", "Giselle", "Sleeping Beauty", "Paquita", "Don Quixote". For over than 10 years, Marianna worked at Kirov Academy of Ballet (Washington DC, USA), where she taught classical dance to children aged 11 to 18. She prepared a large number of classical variations for international ballet competitions. Her students danced classical ballet variations at the largest ballet companies on the West Coast.
From 2018 to 2021, Marianna worked at City Ballet School San Francisco as a classical dance teacher. She was awarded YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award in 2019.
During the duration of her long teaching career, Marianna has produced a large number of successful ballerinas (Maria Beck, Joy Womack, Alexa Torres) who are leading soloists in international ballet companies: Marinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia), Mikhailovsky Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia), Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow, Russia), Boris Eifman Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia), Royal Ballet (London, United Kingdom), Washington Ballet (Washington D.C., USA)
Riccardo Riccardi
Classical & Character Dance Instructor
Guest Teacher/Consultant
Riccardo began his studies in the Neapolitan school of Gino Lemaire, the former soloist of the San Carlo Theater and trained under Zarko Prebil, a student of N. Tarasov. He danced with the company of the San Carlo Opera House in Naples, Italy from 1985 to 2022 working with Carla Fracci, Vladimir Vasilyev, Ekaterina Maksimova, Rudolf Nureyev, Roland Petit, etc. He studied ballet with renowed dancers such as Zarko Prebil, Sulamith Messerer, Michail Messerer, Anatoliy Nisnievitch, Michail Lavrovsky, Alla Sisova.
In 1995 he graduated as maitre de ballet at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. Riccardo started organizing instructional courses for ballet teachers in the Vaganova Method across Italy soon after. In 2007, Mr. Riccardi translated and published the book “The Russian School of Classical Dance“ of V.S.Kostrovitskaya, A.A. Pisarev (Gremese 2007).
Starting in 2011, in collaboration with the international trade and show dance event “Danzainfiera“ (Italy) Riccardo organizes Ballet Master Classes with the Vaganova Ballet Academy. In 2015 he collaborated with the Vaganova Ballet Academy on publication of the book Maestro Enrico Cecchetti.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019 Riccardo was invited to the prestigious Forum of Cultures organized by the Ministry of Russian Culture. 2018 marked the year when he published the book “I temps lies del metodo Vaganova“ (Joker 2018) with reface by Nikolai Tsiskaridze and Marina Vasilyeva. In 2018 and 2019 he participated in the Update Courses of the Vaganova Academy for courses lower, intermediate and higher. From 2019 Mr. Riccardo started teaching at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington as a guest master teacher.
Anastasia Vasilieva, Ph.D.
Classical & Character Dance Instructor
Guest Teacher/Consultant
IIn 1991, Anastasia Vasilieva graduated with honors from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg. Russia from the class of the famous Natalia Dudinskaya, who was a student of Agrippina Vaganova herself. In 2005, Anastasia graduated with honors from the pedagogical department of Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet as a teacher of classical, historical. and character dance. In 2009, she finished her post-graduate stud at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and later in 2015 she received her Candidate of Sciences (Ph.D). For more than 20 years, Anastasia Vasilieva served as a ballet dancer at the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre in St.
Petersburg, Russia. She danced various roles from the Theatre's repertoire in both the corps de ballet & as a soloist. She toured with the theatre and was part of its many premieres all over the world. In 2012, Anastasia was awarded the prestigious diploma of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, a highly regarded honor. Anastasia teaches masterclasses in the classical, character, and historical dance disciplines in theaters and dance schools all over the world including Finland, Great Britain, Italy, France, South Korea, and United States of America. As of now, Ms. Anastasia works as an Associate Professor at the Department of Methodology of Character, Historical Dance and Acting at the prestigious Vaganova Academy of Classical Ballet in St.
Petersburg, Russia. Anastasia Vasilieva is the author of numerous works and papers as well as the author of various books specializing in the methodology of ballet. Since the opening of Osipova Ballet Academy in 2021, Ms. Anastasia Vasilieva has been a leading advisory and consultant for Osipova Ballet Academy.
Daniel Rubin
Classical & Contemporary Dance Instructor/Choreographer
Guest Teacher/Choreographer
Daniel was born and raised in Cupertino, California, USA. After training locally, Daniel studied at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC, and later, under the wing of Tamara Statkoun. Daniel continued his studies of classical ballet at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Bolshoi Ballet Academy).
Upon graduation in 2015, Daniel joined the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. After having performed the entire corps de ballet repertoire at the theatre, he was promoted to soloist in 2018, and to leading soloist in 2020. In 2022, Daniel joined Boston Ballet.
Daniel Rubin has originated the following roles: Konstantin Treplev in The Seagull. A Ballet Story, Louis XIV, Old Molière, and the Commander in Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan, and the Angel in The Pygmalion Effect. Among his other roles in Boris Eifman’s repertoire: George Balanchine in Musagète, Alexei Karamazov in Beyond Sin, the Heir in Russian Hamlet, Tchaikovsky, Prince, Lensky, and Joker in Tchaikovsky. Pro et Contra, Molière in Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan, Lensky in Onegin, The Young Man in Requiem, Claude Debussy in Roden, Her Eternal Idol.
In 2022, Daniel won the “Golden Spotlight” in the category “Best Male Role in a Ballet Performance” for his role in The Seagull. A Ballet Story. He was awarded the St. Petersburg State Prize in the realm of Culture and Fine Art for 2021, for the creation of the ballet The Seagull. A Ballet Story. In 2021, he was also nominated for the “Golden Spotlight” in the category “Best Male Role in a Ballet Performance” for his roles in Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan.
As a dancer with the Eifman Ballet, Daniel has performed in some of the most renowned theatres in the world, including New York City Center, Lincoln Center (NYC), Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Theater am Potsdamer Platz (Berlin), Dubai Opera, Palais des congrès (Paris), the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), Place des Arts (Montreal), Royal Opera House (Muscat), Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Costa Mesa), London Coliseum, Meridian Hall (Toronto), National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona), Shanghai Oriental Art Center, among many others.
Daniel has taken part in the ballet-films Tchaikovsky. Pro et Contra, The Pygmalion Effect, and Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan.
He was a guest artist at the 30th Anniversary Gala of the prestigious Benois de la Danse competition in 2022.
Daniel is completing his Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts at Saint Mary’s College of California (2023). Concurrently, he is taking part in the Crossover Into Business program for professional athletes at Harvard Business School.
Daniel Rubin joined Boston Ballet as an artist of the Company in 2022.
Konstantin Keikhel
Classical & Contemporary Dance Instructor/Choreographer
Guest Choreographer/Consultant
• Prize-winner at the Solo Dance Choreographers Competition (Chelyabinsk, 2007, 1st prize)
• Prize-winner at the Inspiration of the 21st Century Ballet Masters Competition (Kaliningrad, 2010, 1st prize)
• Prize-winner at Alternative Competition (St Petersburg, 2010, 2nd prize in the performers category; 2011, 3rd prize in choreographers category)
• Prize-winner at the 21st Century Ballet Choreographers Competition (Krasnoyarsk, 2012, 1st prize)
• Prize-winner at the International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk (Belarus, 2012, 2nd prize and the special Yevgeny Panfilov prize)
• Prize-winner at the Yekaterina Maximova Open Russian Ballet Competition Arabesque (Perm, 2016, 1st prize in the contemporary choreography competition, prizes of jury of the press and Union of Theatre Workers of the Russia)
In 2010, Keikhel graduated from the Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University (as pedagogue and choreographer). He acquired his Master’s Degree in The Art of Choreography at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. He worked at the Provincial Dances Theatre under Tatiana Baganova. In 2012, he established the modern dance company Aqueduct in St Petersburg. Keikhel has staged various productions for the students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. He teaches modern dance at the Boris Eifman Dance Academy. He has taken part in choreography workshops Dance Platform of the Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he staged the productions of The Path of Charon set to the music by George Frideric Handel (2012), Alter Ego to the music by Ludwig van Beethoven and The Dawn to the music by Antonio Vivaldi (2013). In 2014, Keikhel staged the ballet Vacancy to the music by Franz Schubert and Joseph Haydn at the Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre. At the Leonid Yakobson Ballet Theatre, he has staged such one-act ballets as Collision (2013) to the music by Joby Talbot and Rehearsal (2015) to the music by Joseph Haydn and Konstantin Chistyakov. In 2015, he staged the miniature Genesis to the music by Kimmo Pohjonen and the one-act ballet Turbulent Skies to the music by Franz Schubert and Konstantin Chistyakov for the Yevgeny Panfilov Ballet Theater in Perm. At the New Ballet Moscow Theatre, Keikhel presented the production of Winter Rose to the music by Antonio Vivaldi in 2015 and Carried away to the music by Giovanni Sollima and Joseph Haydn recomposed by Konstantin Chistyakov. At the Bolshoi Theater, as a part of the Youth Program Faces, he presented the productions Room of Expectations (2016) and Island (2017). At the Mariinsky Theatre, he staged the one-act ballet The Seasons to the music by Alexander Glazunov in 2018.
Maria Rubin
Classical, Character Dance & Certified PBT Instructor
Guest Teacher/Consultant
Maria Rubin was born & raised in Moscow, Russia. She entered the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 2007 and graduated in 2015 (class of Tatyana Galtseva). Maria danced at the State Academic Theatre of Classical Ballet in Moscow, Russia & later joined the acclaimed Eifman Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a dancer of the Eifman Ballet, Maria performed soloist roles in ballet's such as "Molière Passion, or The Mask of Don Juan", "Beyond Sin", "The Pygmalion Effect", "Roden, The Eternal Idol", & more.
She is the recipient of a special prize awarded by the expert council of the
"Golden Spotlight", the leading theatrical prize of St. Petersburg, Russia, to the performing ensemble of the ballet
"Tchaikovsky. Pro et Contra" for a high level of skill & enthusiasm. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pedagogy &
Choreography from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. After moving to the U.S., she has received her Progressive Ballet Training & Comprehensive Instructor in Balanced Pilates certification. She specializes in teaching a combination of PBT, Pilates, & Stretching insuring strengthening of deep core & small muscles while developing correct stretching technique in her students.
Natalia Bashkatova
Classical Dance Instructor
Guest Teacher/Consultant
Natalia Bashkatova trained at Bolshoi Ballet Academy, joined the Bolshoi Ballet after graduating and became a Principal dancer, performing many title classical roles. She was named Best Ballerina during the 1992 Spoleto Internatical Arts Festival in Italy. After moving to the United States, Ms. Bashkatova became a Principal Ballerina at the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, and enjoyed a long and fruitful career there. Ms. Bashkatova received her teaching degree from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, and brings her classical and crossover experience into teaching her classes.
Alexey Fomkin, Professor, Ph.D.
Former Classical, Repertoire & Character Dance Instructor/ Choreographer, Member of the Board of Osipova Foundation
Alexey Fomkin, PhD is a world renowned artist of ballet, organizer and researcher of choreographic education, candidate of pedagogical sciences (PhD).
Mr. Fomkin is a graduate of the esteemed Vaganova Ballet Academy in St.Petersburg, Russia. Graduating in 1991 in area of specialization: choreography, ballet artist & in 2000 in area of specialization: researcher, ballet critic, teacher.
Mr. Fomkin has extensive experience in the ballet world. He danced solo male parts at the Mariinsky Theatre from 1991-2011. During this period Mr. Alexey participated in many tours in the USA (5 months tour in Cleveland, Costa Mesa, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington, New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles), Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal), Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, UK, Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Estonia, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc.
In 1995 Mr. Fomkin danced in the ballet troupe "Universal Ballet" (South Korea) as a solo dancer.
From 1999-2013, Mr. Fomkin worked at the Vaganova Ballet Academy; acted as Vice-rector for Academic affairs, the Head of the Department of Choreographic education, professor as well; created and implemented the innovative system of the High Education for the ballet dancers (bachelor's degree); opened the innovative master's degree program "Scientific and creative laboratory of modern dance forms"; organized master classes of outstanding masters of European choreography (Beatrice Massin, Baroque dance; Pierre Rigal, dance composition; Joan van der Mast, pedagogy of modern choreography; Ritta Vainio, modern dance; Anjelen Preljocaj, dance composition, etc.); publicated the monograph “Ballet education: traditions, history, practice”; participated in research projects with Moscow State University, Derzhavin Tambov State University, Immanuel Kant Baltic National University, supervision of research projects in the area of ballet pedagogy, organisation of scientific and practical seminars and conferences for Russian universities; participated in International accreditations of the educational ballet programs as the independent expert (Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico); awarded the title of assistant professorship and "Best expert 2018"; organized the partnership with the Royal Swedish Ballet School, the Ballet School at the Berlin Opera, the Ballet School Paris Opera, the Paris Conservatory, the National School Marseille Ballet, etc.; awarded the Message of thanks from the RF Ministry of Education for the development of the list of university degree programmes in the area of culture and arts; the RF Ministry of Education and Science takes a decision to include Mr. Fomkin into the Working Group for the Implementation of Bologna Principles in Russia; author of 38 research works including three monographs: 3 training manuals, scholarly articles on choreographic education, education standardisation issues, innovation in education.
2007 - member of the jury of The Golden Mask - the Russian theatre festival and the National Theatre Award.
In 2009, Mr. Alexey graduated from the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical Institute (Saint-Petersburg) in the postgraduate program resulting in the PhD in Pedagogical Sciences degree (defense of the dissertation “Historical traditions of contemporary ballet education” for the Candidate of Sciences degree).
2015 – Artistic Director, TanzHaus Moskvich (member of the network of dance houses founded by Bertram Müller), teacher.
2018 – Centro National de las Artes Mexico, School of Ballet Pedagogy under the patronage of the Mexican Ministry of Culture, school organizer, teacher.
2018-2022: Internet portal "DanceHelp" (Moscow), head of the classical dance department.
2020-2022 – Boris Eifman Ballet Academy (Saint-Petersburg), deputy director for development (worked on the monograph "Methods of Teaching Classical Dance: Russian Ballet School" and “Conception of universal dancer”).
ADMINISTRATION
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Olga Pichkova
Administrative Director
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Varya Pichkova
PR/Social Media Manager (Instagram/Facebook/TikTok)