Artist Statement

I gained classical ballet experience from the famed Kirov Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg and the Theater of Bolshoi Academy in Moscow, Russia. During my training, I specialized in Folkloric Character dancing. After receiving my diplomas, I joined a professional Folkloric dance company and performed throughout Eastern Europe.

When I moved to the United States, I began teaching company and master classes in various local dance studios such as Civic Ballet Center and Ballet Theater of Scranton.

In 2004, I established the only Folkloric Character Dance Ensemble in the Scranton community from scratch. The Red Shoes Dance Company makes it a priority to educate its members and audiences in choreography, dance history, tradition, culture, and communication through dance.

Artist Reflection

To explain by current professional status as a dance instructor and as a supporter of the arts, I must begin in Russia. There, I gained classical experience from the famed Kirov Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg and the Theater of Bolshoi Academy in Moscow, Russia where I specialized in folkloric character dance. I joined a professional folkloric dance company and performed throughout Eastern Europe.

After moving to the United States, I began holding private classes in 2001 in Saint Eulalia's Church in Elmhurst, PA, where I had just one student. By 2004, I had gained enough students to form a performing group called The Red Shoes Dance Company. Our group consists of members of the community from various cultural backgrounds, experiences, and ages, dedicated to learning and performing an eclectic array of cultural folk dances that are based on Russian classical ballet technique. The company uses traditional music from cultures around the world that include unique styles, rhythms, and characters.

My goal is to bring to the lives of my students and audiences education of different cultures and traditions, and celebrate history through professional dance training. It is my joy to share my love for the arts through the expression of dance and to revive a lost tradition and study of European arts.

I utilize a variety of practical techniques in my endeavors to create art and educate through dance. To build a strong basis for my students, I instruct them in classical ballet barre exercises. During this time, I explain how to combine knowledge of technique and productive use of muscles to encourage students to develop a self-awareness of their own musculature and coordination. I also cultivate each student's personality and ability to express themselves physically and emotionally through dance by working closely with them individually and as a class.

I teach dance because it is what I know, and to share my knowledge and passion with my students.

My experiences as a professionally trained Russian ballet dancer is uniquely mine to impart to students. My students not only learn about dance and choreography, but they will also be educated in dance history, tradition, culture, communication, and expression through folkloric dance. Music appreciation is gained through exposure to the unique rhythms and instruments used in traditional songs for practice and performance. Students will also be exposed to a fading culture of artistic European traditions. I also make it a point to help students build self-confidence, personality, and self-awareness as they develop physical, mental, and spiritual strength through dance training. Folkloric character dance has had an important role in dance history, and its study will enable students to fully understand and experience dance from a professional background based on classical ballet.

I am concerned that the arts do not receive enough attention in our education system and that students are being denied opportunities to be creative and learn about the importance of the arts to humanity. I stress that, by virtue of my education and experiences as professional dancer, I am well qualified to impart proper training to students who may otherwise be misguided by amateur dance teachers. Also, I believe that more emphasis needs to be placed on promoting physical well-being in addition to intellectual pursuits. I am not interested in teaching any particular age group; my students have ranged in age from five to fifty years old, and I have successfully taught them all.

Depending on the length of my residency, I will know how well students have absorbed my teaching by observation of their improvement from the initial class to the last.

Students who have truly learned will be able to demonstrate basic ballet and folkloric dance techniques, of be able to describe and identify them. A performance would be the best measure of students' learning.