Edward Villella
Founding Artistic Director, Miami City Ballet
Chairman of Faculty, Miami City Ballet School
Long before there was a Miami City Ballet, Eddie Villella – he hadn’t yet graduated to “Edward” – had been recognized as the greatest male ballet dancer ever produced in America. And his primacy hasn’t been challenged in the thirty-four years since his dancing career came to a premature end.
Villella showed that a tough brash kid out of Maritime College could turn into a major artist, and in doing so, changed the way men danced in America as well as the way male dancers were perceived. Since 1986, he has focused his talent, his intelligence, and his energy on creating and maintaining a world-famous ballet company in South Florida.
In recognition of his achievements, President Clinton presented Mr. Villella with the 1997 National Medal of Arts. Also in 1997, he was named a Kennedy Center Honoree, and was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Edward Villella was born in Bayside, New York in 1936. He entered the School of American Ballet at age ten but interrupted his dance training to complete academic studies. A graduate of the New York Maritime Academy, he obtained a B.S. in marine transportation, lettered in baseball, and was a championship boxer.
He returned to SAB following graduation in 1955, and in 1957 was invited to join the New York City Ballet, where he was quickly promoted to Soloist (1958), and then to Principal Dancer (1960). Mr. Villella was the original male lead in many important ballets in the New York City Ballet repertoire, among them Tarantella, the “Rubies” section of Jewels, Harlequinade, Symphony in Three Movements, Dances at a Gathering, Watermill, Bugaku and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon). Perhaps his most famous role was in the 1960 revival of Balanchine’s 1929 masterpiece, Prodigal Son.
Mr. Villella was the first American male dancer to perform with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the only American ever to be asked to dance an encore at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. He danced for President Kennedy’s inauguration and for Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. He was producer/director for the PBS series “Dance in America” for one and a-half years, and in 1975 won an Emmy Award for his CBS television production of “Harlequinade.” He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the School of American Ballet. In 1998, the University of Pittsburgh Press reissued Villella’s 1992 autobiography, Prodigal Son: Dancing for Balanchine in a World of Pain and Magic, written with Larry Kaplan.
He is married to Linda Villella, the Director of Miami City Ballet School.
Chairman of Faculty, Miami City Ballet School
Long before there was a Miami City Ballet, Eddie Villella – he hadn’t yet graduated to “Edward” – had been recognized as the greatest male ballet dancer ever produced in America. And his primacy hasn’t been challenged in the thirty-four years since his dancing career came to a premature end.
Villella showed that a tough brash kid out of Maritime College could turn into a major artist, and in doing so, changed the way men danced in America as well as the way male dancers were perceived. Since 1986, he has focused his talent, his intelligence, and his energy on creating and maintaining a world-famous ballet company in South Florida.
In recognition of his achievements, President Clinton presented Mr. Villella with the 1997 National Medal of Arts. Also in 1997, he was named a Kennedy Center Honoree, and was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Edward Villella was born in Bayside, New York in 1936. He entered the School of American Ballet at age ten but interrupted his dance training to complete academic studies. A graduate of the New York Maritime Academy, he obtained a B.S. in marine transportation, lettered in baseball, and was a championship boxer.
He returned to SAB following graduation in 1955, and in 1957 was invited to join the New York City Ballet, where he was quickly promoted to Soloist (1958), and then to Principal Dancer (1960). Mr. Villella was the original male lead in many important ballets in the New York City Ballet repertoire, among them Tarantella, the “Rubies” section of Jewels, Harlequinade, Symphony in Three Movements, Dances at a Gathering, Watermill, Bugaku and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon). Perhaps his most famous role was in the 1960 revival of Balanchine’s 1929 masterpiece, Prodigal Son.
Mr. Villella was the first American male dancer to perform with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the only American ever to be asked to dance an encore at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. He danced for President Kennedy’s inauguration and for Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. He was producer/director for the PBS series “Dance in America” for one and a-half years, and in 1975 won an Emmy Award for his CBS television production of “Harlequinade.” He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the School of American Ballet. In 1998, the University of Pittsburgh Press reissued Villella’s 1992 autobiography, Prodigal Son: Dancing for Balanchine in a World of Pain and Magic, written with Larry Kaplan.
He is married to Linda Villella, the Director of Miami City Ballet School.
Darci Kistler
Darci Kistler was born in Riverside, California, the youngest of five children and the only girl. Always athletic, Kistler enjoyed many sports, including skiing, waterskiing, swimming, tennis, football, and dirt biking before she began studying ballet. At the age of 12, she began studying with Irina Kosmovska in Los Angeles and that same year she attended a summer session at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. Two years later, she received a full scholarship to SAB. Kistler participated in two SAB Workshops. In 1979, she danced a principal role in Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Haydn Concerto, choreographed especially for the workshop, and danced the pas de deux from the opera William Tell by August Bournonville, staged by Stanley Williams. In 1980, Kistler danced the principal role in George Balanchine’s one-act Swan Lake. Kistler joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in April 1980, was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1981, and became a principal dancer in 1982. She has danced leading roles in numerous works choreographed by Balanchine, including Agon, Apollo, Bugaku, Concerto Barocco, Episodes, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Diamonds from Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mozartiana, Orpheus, Prodigal Son, Robert Schumann’s “Davidsbündlertänze,” La Sonnambula, Symphony in C (Second Movement), Tzigane, Variations Pour Une Porte et Un Soupir, Vienna Waltzes, Walpurgisnacht Ballet, and Western Symphony. In addition, Kistler has danced leading roles in Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun, In G Major and In the Night, and Peter Martins’ Papillons, Songs of the Auvergne and Valse Triste. Jerome Robbins created leading roles for Kistler in Andantino, Gershwin Concerto, and Piccolo Balletto. In addition, Martins has created many leading roles for Kistler including: Adams Violin Concerto, Burleske, The Chairman Dances, Guide to Strange Places, Harmonielehre, Morgen, The Sleeping Beauty, Stabat Mater, Symphonic Dances, Symphony No. 1, Tala Gaisma, Thou Swell, and Todo Buenos Aires, and the role of Lady Capulet in Romeo + Juliet. Additional principal roles created for Kistler include: Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels and Robert La Fosse’s Danses de Cour. Kistler starred as the Sugarplum Fairy in the 1993 film version of New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
In addition to her performing career, Kistler has been a member of SAB’s faculty since 1994, and in 2008 created a new children’s program at SAB that lowered the starting age for students from 8 to 6 years old. She retired from New York City Ballet during the spring 2010 season and now teaches full time.
In addition to her performing career, Kistler has been a member of SAB’s faculty since 1994, and in 2008 created a new children’s program at SAB that lowered the starting age for students from 8 to 6 years old. She retired from New York City Ballet during the spring 2010 season and now teaches full time.
Sascha Radetsky
Born in Santa Cruz, California, Sascha Radetsky began his ballet studies in the San Francisco Bay Area with Damara Bennett and Ayako Takahashi. At the age of 15, he was invited to study in Moscow at the Bolshoi Academy under world-renowned men’s teacher Pytor Pestov. After a year in Russia, he studied on scholarship at the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C. under Rudolph Kharatian and Andrei Garbouz. He toured with the Kirov Ballet throughout the United States and internationally. He also studied on scholarship at the summer programs of the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre’s School of Classical Ballet with Mikhail Baryshnikov, the San Francisco Ballet School and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Vail, Colorado.
Radetsky joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 1995, became a member of the corps de ballet in 1996 and a soloist in 2003. His repertoire includes the Head Fakir in La Bayadère, Accordionist in The Bright Stream, the third movement in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Her Prince Charming in Cinderella, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in Company B, Lankendem and Birbanto in Le Corsaire, Espada and the lead gypsy in Don Quixote, Demetrius in The Dream, the Pastor in Fall River Legend, the second and third sailor in Fancy Free, and many more.
Radetsky has danced the works of acclaimed choreographers such as George Balanchine, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, John Cranko, Agnes de Mille, Jorma Elo, Jerome Robbins, Ann Reinking, Christopher Wheeldon and Jiri Kylian. He is an original member of the troupe “Stiefel and Stars” and has been a frequent guest performer and teacher with ballet companies across the United States and abroad.
In 2000, Radetsky starred as Charlie in the movie Center Stage, as well as in pop singer Mandy Moore’s music video "I Wanna Be With You" from the Center Stage soundtrack. He has appeared in numerous television and print commercials, as well as starring roles in the PBS movie Home at Last and in the NBC television series Midnight Caller. He has written for Newsweek, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit and World Arts Today.com. He is married to ABT Soloist Stella Abrera.
In September 2008, Radetsky joined Dutch National Ballet as a principal dancer, where his repertoire included Masetto in Don Giovanni, Basilio in Don Quixote, Sanguinic in The Four Temperaments, Albrecht in Giselle and The Son in Prodigal Son.
Radetsky joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 1995, became a member of the corps de ballet in 1996 and a soloist in 2003. His repertoire includes the Head Fakir in La Bayadère, Accordionist in The Bright Stream, the third movement in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Her Prince Charming in Cinderella, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in Company B, Lankendem and Birbanto in Le Corsaire, Espada and the lead gypsy in Don Quixote, Demetrius in The Dream, the Pastor in Fall River Legend, the second and third sailor in Fancy Free, and many more.
Radetsky has danced the works of acclaimed choreographers such as George Balanchine, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, John Cranko, Agnes de Mille, Jorma Elo, Jerome Robbins, Ann Reinking, Christopher Wheeldon and Jiri Kylian. He is an original member of the troupe “Stiefel and Stars” and has been a frequent guest performer and teacher with ballet companies across the United States and abroad.
In 2000, Radetsky starred as Charlie in the movie Center Stage, as well as in pop singer Mandy Moore’s music video "I Wanna Be With You" from the Center Stage soundtrack. He has appeared in numerous television and print commercials, as well as starring roles in the PBS movie Home at Last and in the NBC television series Midnight Caller. He has written for Newsweek, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit and World Arts Today.com. He is married to ABT Soloist Stella Abrera.
In September 2008, Radetsky joined Dutch National Ballet as a principal dancer, where his repertoire included Masetto in Don Giovanni, Basilio in Don Quixote, Sanguinic in The Four Temperaments, Albrecht in Giselle and The Son in Prodigal Son.
Alexander Greschenko
Alexander Greschenko was born in Moscow. He began his dance training at the age of ten at the prestigious Moscow Choreographic School, under the direction of Igor Uksusnikov, former soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet and Kirov Ballet. After graduating with the highest honors, Greschenko was invited to join the Bolshoi Ballet.
Greschenko was a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet for nine years where he danced classical ballet repertoire including the grand pas de deux from Raymonda, the Black Man in Mozart and Salieri and roles in the Golden Age, Swan Lake, Spartacus, Giselle, Don Quixote, Macbeth, and The Nutcracker. While at the Bolshoi, he trained under the great Russian teacher Asaf Messerer and danced in many other ballet productions, such as original ballets by Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova. In addition to his dance career, he was also recognized for his talents as a musician by being invited to perform as a guitarist with the Bolshoi Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble of the Bolshoi Orchestra on occasion. As a soloist with Bolshoi Ballet, Greschenko toured the United States, Central and South America, Japan, and Australia, among others.
In 1989, Greschenko moved to America and joined the Princeton Ballet as a principal dancer. In 1990, he moved to Los Angeles and joined Los Angeles Classical Ballet where he performed for two years dancing principal roles in their productions of The Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, On Occasion and Aymara.
Greschenko was a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet for nine years where he danced classical ballet repertoire including the grand pas de deux from Raymonda, the Black Man in Mozart and Salieri and roles in the Golden Age, Swan Lake, Spartacus, Giselle, Don Quixote, Macbeth, and The Nutcracker. While at the Bolshoi, he trained under the great Russian teacher Asaf Messerer and danced in many other ballet productions, such as original ballets by Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova. In addition to his dance career, he was also recognized for his talents as a musician by being invited to perform as a guitarist with the Bolshoi Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble of the Bolshoi Orchestra on occasion. As a soloist with Bolshoi Ballet, Greschenko toured the United States, Central and South America, Japan, and Australia, among others.
In 1989, Greschenko moved to America and joined the Princeton Ballet as a principal dancer. In 1990, he moved to Los Angeles and joined Los Angeles Classical Ballet where he performed for two years dancing principal roles in their productions of The Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, On Occasion and Aymara.
Mikhail Tchoupakov
Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Misha graduated from the famous
Bolshoi Ballet Academy. For 9 years, he had danced with the Bolshoi Ballet,
during which time he performed full repertory of the theatre, including soloist
parts in ballets such as Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Swan Lake,
Sketches, Raymonda, Don Quixote, Golden Age, and many others. Among his
teachers are Asaf Messerer and Boris Akimov. With the Bolshoi, he toured all
over the world, particularly such countries as Brazil, Australia, United
Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, France, Morocco, India, Japan, China, and the
Unites States. Misha is also a graduate of the Moscow State Academy of
Choreography. He received his M.F.A. in Ballet Pedagogy and Choreography under the tutelage of Professor Peter Pestov.
Since 1990, Misha has been residing in the US. He has performed with the following companies in US and Europe: Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, and San Francisco Opera Ballet as well as appearing as a guest artist with many others throughout the United States. He spent six years with Colorado Ballet performing diverse classical and contemporary repertoire, including ballets by George Balanchine, Choo San Gogh, Alvin Ailey, Christopher Wheeldon, and Frederick Ashton. He has also served as a Ballet Master and Répétiteur for Colorado Ballet and was on the faculty of the Academy of Colorado Ballet.
Misha taught for the Houston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, David Taylor Dance Theatre, State Street Ballet, Ballet Arlington, Guangzhou Ballet of China, Sibiu Ballet Theatre in Romania, Galili Dance in the Netherlands and Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has been a guest teacher in Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, and Great Britain, and appeared as guest lecturer at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, UK, Colorado College, and Wyoming State University. For three years, he was on the faculty of the University of Utah Department of Ballet as Assistant Professor Lecturer, where he taught classes in ballet technique, men’s variations, pas de deux, and character dance, as well as served on graduate committees and participated actively in recruitment.
Mr. Tchoupakov serves as a judge and master teacher for Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition in US, Japan and France, Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Romania, Ryukyushimpo Ballet Competition in Okinawa, Japan and Festival de Dança Joinville in Paulínia Grand Prix Brazil as well as other international dance competitions. His choreographic credits include staging the all-Goleizovsky program for Ballet Arlington, TX, and Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C., as well as choreography for Opera Colorado’s Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, and Don Giovanni, and annual Grand Défilé for Youth America Grand Prix Competition Gala in New York. Misha has also choreographed for a Midland Music Makers Opera company in Birmingham, UK and co-produced Coppelia at the Elmhurst School for Dance. He taught for the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School in London and was on the faculty of the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s official school, the Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, UK. Mr. Tchoupakov’s students are now performing with such companies as Royal Ballet, ABT, San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Houston Ballet, The Polish National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Norwegian Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Singapore Dance Theater, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Berlin State Opera Ballet etc.
Misha successfully organized tours to Japan for Elmhurst School for Dance, Los Angeles Ballet Academy, Utah Ballet. He is an official representative and appointed trustee of the Kasyan Goleizovsky Foundation.
Bolshoi Ballet Academy. For 9 years, he had danced with the Bolshoi Ballet,
during which time he performed full repertory of the theatre, including soloist
parts in ballets such as Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Swan Lake,
Sketches, Raymonda, Don Quixote, Golden Age, and many others. Among his
teachers are Asaf Messerer and Boris Akimov. With the Bolshoi, he toured all
over the world, particularly such countries as Brazil, Australia, United
Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, France, Morocco, India, Japan, China, and the
Unites States. Misha is also a graduate of the Moscow State Academy of
Choreography. He received his M.F.A. in Ballet Pedagogy and Choreography under the tutelage of Professor Peter Pestov.
Since 1990, Misha has been residing in the US. He has performed with the following companies in US and Europe: Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, and San Francisco Opera Ballet as well as appearing as a guest artist with many others throughout the United States. He spent six years with Colorado Ballet performing diverse classical and contemporary repertoire, including ballets by George Balanchine, Choo San Gogh, Alvin Ailey, Christopher Wheeldon, and Frederick Ashton. He has also served as a Ballet Master and Répétiteur for Colorado Ballet and was on the faculty of the Academy of Colorado Ballet.
Misha taught for the Houston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, David Taylor Dance Theatre, State Street Ballet, Ballet Arlington, Guangzhou Ballet of China, Sibiu Ballet Theatre in Romania, Galili Dance in the Netherlands and Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has been a guest teacher in Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, and Great Britain, and appeared as guest lecturer at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, UK, Colorado College, and Wyoming State University. For three years, he was on the faculty of the University of Utah Department of Ballet as Assistant Professor Lecturer, where he taught classes in ballet technique, men’s variations, pas de deux, and character dance, as well as served on graduate committees and participated actively in recruitment.
Mr. Tchoupakov serves as a judge and master teacher for Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition in US, Japan and France, Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Romania, Ryukyushimpo Ballet Competition in Okinawa, Japan and Festival de Dança Joinville in Paulínia Grand Prix Brazil as well as other international dance competitions. His choreographic credits include staging the all-Goleizovsky program for Ballet Arlington, TX, and Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C., as well as choreography for Opera Colorado’s Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, and Don Giovanni, and annual Grand Défilé for Youth America Grand Prix Competition Gala in New York. Misha has also choreographed for a Midland Music Makers Opera company in Birmingham, UK and co-produced Coppelia at the Elmhurst School for Dance. He taught for the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School in London and was on the faculty of the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s official school, the Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, UK. Mr. Tchoupakov’s students are now performing with such companies as Royal Ballet, ABT, San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Houston Ballet, The Polish National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Norwegian Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Singapore Dance Theater, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Berlin State Opera Ballet etc.
Misha successfully organized tours to Japan for Elmhurst School for Dance, Los Angeles Ballet Academy, Utah Ballet. He is an official representative and appointed trustee of the Kasyan Goleizovsky Foundation.
Gennadi Saveliev
Born in Moscow, Russia, Gennadi Saveliev began his ballet studies at the Bolshoi Ballet School at the age of nine. He has studied with such distinguished teachers and coaches as Sergei Berezhnoi, Pyotr Pestov, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Stanley Williams, Eleanor D’Antuono and Cynthia Gregory. At 18, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company where his repertoire included the Chinese Doll in The Nutcracker, one of the four cavaliers in Raymonda and the pas de trois in Swan Lake. Saveliev has also danced with the Nevada Dance Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Los Angeles Classical Ballet and the New Jersey Ballet. Saveliev won the silver medal at the 1996 New York International Ballet Competition and was a finalist at the Nagoya Ballet Competition in 1999.
Saveliev joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in January 1996. His repertoire with the company includes roles in La Bayadère, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Coppélia, Le Corsaire, Diana and Acteon, Diversion of Angels, Don Quixote, The Dream, Christopher Wheeldon’s VIII, Fall River Legend, Flames of Paris, Giselle, Manon, The Merry Widow, The Nutcracker, Offenbach in the Underworld, Onegin, On the Dnieper, Pillar of Fire, Prince Igor, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Sylvia, The Taming of the Shrew, Ballet Imperial, In The Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Les Sylphides, Symphonie Concertante, Theme and Variations and Without Words, as well as roles in Black Tuesday, Clear, HereAfter, Jabula, Overgrown Path, Petite Mort and Symphony in C. He created leading roles in Rabbit and Rogue and Seven Sonatas.
Saveliev is a member of “Angel Corella and Friends” and “Stiefel and Stars” touring companies and is also the founder and artistic director of Youth America Grand Prix, America’s first student ballet scholarship competition. Saveliev was promoted to soloist with American Ballet Theatre in August 2002.
Saveliev joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in January 1996. His repertoire with the company includes roles in La Bayadère, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Coppélia, Le Corsaire, Diana and Acteon, Diversion of Angels, Don Quixote, The Dream, Christopher Wheeldon’s VIII, Fall River Legend, Flames of Paris, Giselle, Manon, The Merry Widow, The Nutcracker, Offenbach in the Underworld, Onegin, On the Dnieper, Pillar of Fire, Prince Igor, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Sylvia, The Taming of the Shrew, Ballet Imperial, In The Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Les Sylphides, Symphonie Concertante, Theme and Variations and Without Words, as well as roles in Black Tuesday, Clear, HereAfter, Jabula, Overgrown Path, Petite Mort and Symphony in C. He created leading roles in Rabbit and Rogue and Seven Sonatas.
Saveliev is a member of “Angel Corella and Friends” and “Stiefel and Stars” touring companies and is also the founder and artistic director of Youth America Grand Prix, America’s first student ballet scholarship competition. Saveliev was promoted to soloist with American Ballet Theatre in August 2002.
Matthew Rushing
Matthew Rushing was born in Los Angeles, CA. He began his dance training with Kashmir Blake in Inglewood, CA, and later continued his training at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He received a Spotlight Award and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He trained at The Ailey School and later became a member of Ailey II, where he danced for a year. During his career, Rushing has performed as a guest artist for galas in Vail, Colorado, as well as in France, Russia, Canada, Austria, and Italy. He has performed for former presidents George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush and for President Barack Obama, as well as at the 2010 White House tribute to Judith Jamison. During his time with the company, he has choreographed two ballets: Acceptance in Surrender (2005), a collaboration with company members Hope Boykin and Abdur Rahim-Jackson, and Uptown (2009), a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance. He was also recently named a 2010 recipient of the Dance Magazine Award. Rushing joined the company in 1992 and became rehearsal director in June 2010.
Larissa Saveliev
Larissa Saveliev was trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. As a member of the Bolshoi Ballet, she has toured throughout Russia, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Egypt, and Japan. Her repertoire includes: Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, and Giselle, as well as works by Yuri Grigorovich, George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille. Since coming to the United States in 1995, Saveliev has continued her dance career with such noted companies as the Los Angeles Classical Ballet, The New Jersey Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet. In 1999, she was chosen to choreograph for the Princess Grace Awards Ceremony. As a respected dance educator, Saveliev appears as a master teacher and stages classical ballet productions for schools around the country. Saveliev is also the co-founder of Youth America Grand Prix.
