Alys and Vladimir Vasiliev, former Director of Bolshoi Ballet, International Ballet Legend

Yury Grigorovich, Master of Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow and renowned International Ballet Legend
honours Alysh Shee with Silver Medal at Moscow International Ballet Competition

HER STORY:

Alys began her training with Nadia Veselova Tencer at age 9. In this time she has danced Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, Thumbelina in Thumbelina, Clara, the Doll and Chinese in Canadian Ballet Theatres Nutcracker, The Peasant Variation in Giselle and Gamazatti and First Shade Variation in La Bayadere. Alys is the Grand Prix winner in Youth American Grand Prix competition in Orlando, Florida for 2009 and came first in the Pas de Deux with Evgeni Dokoukine dancing Don Quixote pas and Le Corsaire Pas.

Evgeni Dokoukine

HIS STORY:

Evgeni Dokoukine began his training at the Ontario Dance Theatre with artistic director Yuri Vrazhkin at the age of 9. He then attended Canada’s National Ballet School in which he performed roles in The Nutracker and The Playing Field. Currently, Evgeni performs at Canadian Ballet Theatre with artistic director Nadia Veselova and at Ballet Espressivo with artistic director Donna Greenberg.

His repertoire includes: Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, and Sleeping Beauty.

Recently, Evgeni was awarded first place in the Pas De Deux division at the Youth American Grand Prix competition semi-finals with his partner Alys Shee.

Jamie Reid

Jaime started at the Academy of Jazz in 2004. Upon recognizing her as a quick study and strong yet graceful and versatile dancer with amazing stage presence, Jaime was quickly placed with the advanced class. Jaime excelled in all styles of dance including Jazz, Acro, Hip hop, contemporary and the style she is most passionate about…Classical Ballet. Despite a hectic academic schedule, Jaime danced everyday and assisted in teaching younger kids in addition to doing summer classes with Nadia. In 2009 Jaime was most excited to perform in St. Petersburgh Dance Open Festival where she also took master classes from company teachers of the world famous Kirov Theatre. She participated in only the regional competition in YAGP San Diego 2010, where she came in the top twelve in the senior division and was one of only four participants to receive a scholarship. Jaime debuted as Arabian soloist in the Canadian Ballet Theatre production of The Nutcracker to much acclaim. Her principal roles include Kitri, Paquita, Third Shade in La Bayadere, Big Swans and her favorite, Odette in Swan Lake. Jaime has also done corp de ballet in Giselle and Don Quixote and Waltz of the Flowers as well as demi-soloist in la Bayadere and Swan Lake. In the past year, Jaime graduated high school a year early and deferred attending a top Toronto university as well as declined a four year academic scholarship to an American University to further her training. In the past year, Jaime has been in New York where she is a trainee and studio company soloist at Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. She hopes to dance professionally anywhere in the world…just as long as she is dancing!!HER STORY:

Sarah Clark

HER STORY:

Sarah Clark, a student of the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, was born in Thornhill and started studying ballet at the age of four. She attended The Academy of Ballet and Jazz and was quickly taken under the tutelage of the Academy’s Director, Nadia Veselova-Tencer (Director of STARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY) Sarah has caused a sensation in the international ballet scene because of her artistry, elegance, and top marks at Youth Grande Prix international ballet competition in New York. Marina, Director of the Bolshoi Ballet School, then invited her to audition for the school, one of the oldest in Russia. Clark was one of thousands to audition, and the only accepted student from the western hemisphere. All in all, this was not only an honor for Sarah Clark, but also her family and teachers. She was one of the first young Canadians to be accepted to the Bolshoi School, and at the age of 15 she was the youngest in her class.

Leia Saltzman

HER STORY:

Leia Saltzman was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, however, she moved with her family to Toronto at the age of two. She was introduced to her teacher, Nadia Veselova Tencer, when she began studying ballet with the Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of ten, and has been dancing with the school ever since. She has also spent four summers in New York at the Joffrey Ballet School summer program. Leia was accepted to the Academie de Danse Classique Princess Grace in Monaco with a full tuition scholarship. Furthermore, Marika Besobrasova, the director of the school, has invited her to dance in a Gala Tribute to Rudolph Nureyev that took place in Monaco on March 17, 2003. Leia was very honored and excited to be a part of such a prestigious event, especially since her teacher, Nadia Veselova Tencer, performed in Toronto’s Nureyev Gala several years ago, and now Leia will be following in her footsteps and performing in Nureyev gala in Monaco. She is now a member of Toronto’s Canadian Ballet Theatre, where her teacher serves as Artistic Director. As a member of the Canadian Ballet Theatre, Leia has danced solo roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, and Giselle. Some of those performances have been school shows, others, performances of Canadian Ballet Theatre with guest artists from the Bolshoi Ballet or American Ballet Theatre

Järvi Raudsepp

HER STORY:

Järvi Raudsepp started her ballet training at the age of 8 with Nadia Veselova-Tencer at the Academy of Ballet & Jazz and graduated from Nadia’s class in June 2003 at the age of 17. She was immediately offered a contract with the National Ballet of Estonia and left for Tallinn in early August, 2003. During her first year in Estonia, Järvi also studied privately with the well-known ballet pedagogue Tiiu Randviir (prima ballerina of the Estonian National Ballet during the 1960s and 70s). Ms. Randviir gave her the ultimate praise at the end of her first coaching session with Järvi, telling her that she had been “absolutely correctly taught” in the Vaganova method of ballet. Because of her exemplary training throughout her 9 years at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, Järvi auditioned and was accepted into many prestigious summer programs, among them the Kirov Academy of Ballet (where she was honoured to be asked to stay for the year after her first summer there) and the Miami City Ballet. Knowing the training she received close to home was equal or superior to any professional school in North America, Järvi always chose to continue her studies with Nadia, Natasha Otcheretko, and Vladimir Ivanov at her home school, the Academy of Ballet & Jazz. She is thrilled to have launched her ballet career with her dream company, the Estonian National Ballet. Recently she was invited to dance with Orlando Ballet, FL, U.S.A.

Ursula Szkolak

PERSONAL MESSAGE:

I started with Nadia at Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 5. With Nadia’s great training and help, at the age of 17 I launched my professional dancing career as soloist at Columbia Clasical Ballet, South Carolina. Since then I have danced with Nadia’s Canadian Ballet Theatre as well as other Canadian ballet companies such as Ballet Victoria and Banff Festival of Dance.

Sahra Maira

HER STORY:

Sahra Maira first came to Aceademy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 7. In 1998 Sahra represented Canada at International Ballet Competition – A.Vaganova Grand Prix that was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Presently, Sahra is a ballerina at Hungarian National Opera and Ballet.

Michelle Couto

HER STORY:

Academy of Ballet and Jazz was the only professional school from North America that was invited to participate in 1998 International Ballet Competition – A.Vaganova Grand-Prix in St.Peterbourgh, Russia. Michelle Cuoto advanced to the elite second of three levels in the competition and had the honour of dancing on the stage of the Imperial Hermitage Theatre.

Ian Szkolak

HIS STORY:

Ian Szkolak started in Academy of Balllet and Jazz at the age of 4 and graduated in 2004. Later accepted to John Cranko Ballet Academy (Stuttgart Ballet) graduating class.

Rachel Fox

HER STORY:

Rachel Fox, student of Nadia Veselova Tencer is presently an Artist at English National Ballet

Jennifer Winter

HER STORY:

Jennifer started with Nadia at the age of 5. In early 2004 she was accepted to graduating class in Julliard Dance School, New York City. Presently, artist with Dance Theater of Harlem, New York City.

Melissa Panetta

HER STORY:

Melissa started her ballet training with Nadia in 1988 at the young age of 4. Under the skilled guidance and amazing influence of Nadia, Melissa became a teacher at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz in 2001. With her patience, knowledge, and understanding nature Melissa has an innate ability to connect with the students she instructs under the styles of Ballet, Jazz and Pointe repertoire. Currently she is a full time Sociology major at York University, a teacher with Academy of Ballet and Jazz and a soloist with the Canadian Ballet Theatre.

Rachel Lieberman

HER STORY:

Rachel Lieberman started with Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 4. At age 16, she was accepted to graduating class at Harrid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. Upon graduation she was offered a contract by Colorado Ballet.