Faculty

Yuri Grigoriev, Artistic Director / Master Teacher

Aelita Gergel
Aelita Gergel began her training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy
in Moscow, Russia. During her school years, she danced on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre in such ballets as Coppelia, Don Quixote (as Cupid), and Sleeping Beauty. Her teacher in her
last year of school was the renowned Ida Vasilieva of the Bolshoi Theatre. Upon graduating in 1984, she was invited to join the prestigious Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet, where she became a soloist. She danced solo roles in Swan Lake, Esmeralda, Giselle, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Chopiniana, The Snow Maiden, Paquita and Romeo and Juliet. In 1995, Ms. Gergel received her diploma as Pedagogue/Choreographer from the Ballet Academy Institute where she subsequently taught beginning ballet and staged works for which she won several awards. In 2003, she
was invited to teach and choreograph at the Russian Center “Dolina” in Los Angeles.

Julia Bourlina

At 9 years old, Julia Bourlina was selected to enter the Vaganova Academy of Classical Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. She studied under Kirov ballet master Ninella Kurgapkina and after 8 years of training, was promoted into the Kirov Ballet and Opera Company. From 1984 through 1996 Ms. Bourlina performed in Russia and on tour around the world. Under the tutelage of master instructor Victoria Novichyonok, who herself graduated with the last class personally taught by Agrippina Vaganova, she became a teacher in her own right.

In 2003 Ms. Bourlina was fully certified as a Pilates instructor by The Pilates Studio in New York City, under master instructor Romana Kryzanowska. Working in Los Angeles, Ms. Bourlina’s clients have included celebrities, professional dancers and people in rehabilitation after injury or surgery. 

At present Ms. Bourlina maintains a successful business teaching classical ballet and Pilates, choreographing and writing articles for ballet magazines. She has also produced original music CDs for ballet class in collaboration with pianist and composer Anna Korab.

Amanda Rabin Kofsky
Amanda Rabin Kofsky was born and raised in South Africa. She joined the PACT Ballet Company of Johannesburg at 17, where she performed in numerous productions, including as a soloist in Faust. She also appeared regularly in TV shows and films,
and on stage. After moving to France, she became a soloist at the Paradis Latin and Alcazar before joining choreographer Redhas’ company Friends, with whom she danced until 1998. She has danced with Roland Petit, Patrick Dupont, Gloria Gaynor, Sylvie Vartan, and YES. She was awarded a Volonine International Choreographic Prize and received numerous grants and commissions. Ms. Kofsky has choreographed and taught throughout Europe (serving as faculty member and examiner at
the Academie Internationale de la Danse de Paris for five years),
Asia, the U.S. and South Africa. Her works include Scrambled Heads for PACT Ballet and numerous pieces created for other companies, stage productions, films and television.

Seda Aybay
Seda Aybay, born in Istanbul, Turkey, is the founder, artistic director and choreographer of Kybele Dance Theater. Her productions and original works have been performed in Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. Ms. Aybay began her dance training in French, German & Russian ballet techniques in her native country. Subsequently, she trained, performed and choreographed internationally in modern, jazz and tap dance forms, becoming a three-time first place winner in modern form at the Turkish National Dance competition. After coming to the United States, Ms. Aybay graduated with honors from the UCLA Worlds Arts and Cultures department in choreography. She performed with numerous dance companies including "Synapse Dance Theater", "Praxis Project", Lion's Pounds Theater (as a soloist), Lula Washington Dance Theater, and Kin Dance (as a guest performer). She has also taken an active part in community projects by giving dance classes and organizing and choreographing performances at the Arts Bridge Program of UCLA, the " D.A.R.E" program and at many schools in the Los Angeles area.
 
Kenji Yamaguchi
Kenji Yamaguchi was born in Japan and received his initial
training in Tokyo at the Studio Ichibangai, the Performing Dance Center and the Japan Dance Center. He danced professionally throughout Asia for several years. Mr. Yamaguchi has continued his dance studies in Los Angeles and earned his B.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts. As a featured dancer in the KIN Dance Company, he has performed throughout the United States, and locally at the Ford Amphitheatre, Highways, the Kodak Theatre, California Plaza, El Portal and the Ivar Theatre. Mr.Yamaguchi placed first at the Japan National Society competition as well as first and second at the Desert Dance
under the Stars competition.

Guest Faculty

Arkady Nikolaev, Colleen Neary, Thordal Christensen, Zippora Karz, Irina Kolpakova, Gennady Selutsky