Professional Training Program Faculty

Edward Ellison | Artistic Director
Edward Ellison is the founder and artistic director of Ellison Ballet, based in New York City. As a dancer, teacher, ballet master and coach, Mr. Ellison has traveled the world. He has served as ballet master for Boston Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and has taught for such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Houston Ballet. Mr. Ellison has also taught for the schools of San Francisco Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, STEPS on Broadway and several universities and colleges throughout the U.S. He is frequently invited to be a jury member with numerous international ballet competitions. Through his detailed technical and artistic influence, Mr. Ellison's students have been awarded numerous top prizes in international ballet competitions: Moscow IBC; USA (Jackson) IBC; Youth America Grand Prix; World Ballet Competition; and Tanzolymp-Berlin. Graduates of Ellison Ballet can be seen dancing for some of the most prestigious companies across the globe, and his school has received the YAGP Outstanding School and Outstanding Teacher Awards. Mr. Ellison has been featured in articles in Dance Magazine, Pointe, and Dance Spirit.
Jolanta Valeikaite | Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations
Born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, Ms. Valeikaite graduated with honors from the National Ballet Academy Vilnius (Vaganova-based). As a student, she received her first major break at the age of 18, debuting in the title role of “Giselle,” whereupon she was promoted to soloist in the Lithuanian National Ballet Company. In 1981, she received a full scholarship to study at the Bolshoi Theater with teachers M. Semionova, T. Vetrova, and B. Akimov. A principal dancer for 10 years with the company, her roles include “Giselle,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Swan Lake,” “Raymonda,” “Nutcracker,” La Sylphide,” and “Coppelia”. Additionally, she appeared as a guest artist with V. Vasiliev—E. Maximova Company in the U.S.A., France, and at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary Gala of V. Vasiliev at the Bolshoi Theater and R. Page’s “The Nutcracker” in Chicago. In 1988, Ms. Valeikaite received prizes in the International Ballet Competitions in Moscow, Varna, and Paris. Upon moving to Germany in 1992, she became a principal dancer with Bonn Ballet and Essen Ballet. Her roles include: “Romeo and Juliet,” “Three Sisters,” “Cinderella,” “Hamlet”, choreographed by V. Panov & “Before Night Falls”, choreographed by Nils Christy, “Adagio Hammerklavier”  by Hans van Manen, “The Four Last Songs” by Rudi van Dantzig, “7 Symphony” by Toer van Schayk. In 2000 and 2001, Ms. Valeikaite worked as an assistant choreographer in the new production of S. Prokofiev’s “Classical Symphony” and “The Rite of Spring”, choreographed by X.Peng-Wang at the National Ballet Company Vilnius, Lithuania and Central Ballet Company in Beijing, China. In 2001, Ms. Valeikaite moved to the U.S.A. In 2003-2014, she taught at Ballet Arts in Worcester, MA and from 2007-2014, she was a ballet mistress and faculty member at the Festival Ballet Providence in Rhode Island. Since 2014, Ms. Valeikaite has been a faculty member at the Ellison Ballet.
Gaiane Akopian | Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations
Gaiane Akopian graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St,Petersburg, Russia and the Yerevan State Choreographic College, where she had the privilege to study under the two ballet legends, A. Vaganova’s former students F. Balabina, and N. Dudinskaya. Ms.Akopian is on faculty at the Ellison Ballet Summer Intensive, Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program, Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive, and Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in NYC. She has choreographed and prepared students for competitions as well as staged numerous ballet performances. Gaiane performed around the world and has been recognized by critics worldwide.  She danced in numerous classical and contemporary ballets and performed as principal dancer with the Armenian National Ballet Theater, Thuringian State Ballet, Germany and GR Ballet Company. Some of her leading roles include Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, Carmen, The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee, Cinderella, Firebird, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Wolfe, Ara Beautiful, Scheherazade, Eugene Onegin, Enigma, CanCan, Les Liasons Dangereuses, and various Balanchine pieces. She was acknowledged by the critics of the Ballet International Tanz Aktuell European magazine as one of Germany’s best dancers, in 1995, and won the Grand-Prix as the dancer of the year in 1997. In 2002, Ms. Akopian was praised in the Musis Sacrum book titled “100 Years Theaterhaus Gera”, (Germany). In 2006, she appeared in “Amazing Women of West Michigan” book among the most influential women of the West Michigan community. She worked with figure skaters in Patterson Ice Center, Greater Grand Rapids Figure Skating Club, MI - registered with the United Skates Figure Association. Ms. Akopian worked as a Founder Artistic Director, and Board Of Directors member of Michigan Ballet Academy. Ms. Akopian is very committed to excellence, likes to share her rich stage experience and feels very proud of her students who perform professionally in various ballet companies after studying under her guidance. 
Eva Janiszewski | Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations, Character
Eva Janiszewski has had the honor to study with great classical artists throughout her career including Gelsey Kirkland, Elena Sherstneva, Vera Solovyeva, Nikolai Levitsky, Yekaterina Mikhailovtseva, Irina Kolpakova, and Lyubov Fominich. After graduating from the Gelsey Kirkland Academy, Ms. Janiszewski became Gelsey Kirkland’s first Principal Character Artist in her company, and performed leading roles in various ballets. In the following years, Ms. Janiszewski studied intensively in St. Petersburg Russia with Yekaterina Mikhailovtseva, while taking class with the Yacobson Ballet. She then went on to freelance and perform with several companies, including a guest performance with Open World Dance Foundation, where she danced the Character Mazurka in Misty Copeland’s premiere of Cinderella. Eva Janiszewski has taught at numerous schools in the United States as full time faculty as well as summer faculty, including Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, The Hartt School, Joffrey Ballet Character Program, and Forrest Academy of Ballet New York. In 2016, Ms. Janiszewski started Eva Janiszewski Ballet, a school in NYC for young gifted artists. Her students have since won the gold medal and Jury distinction awards in the solo and ensemble categories at several competitions in the United States. In 2023, Ms. Janiszewski received the Outstanding Teacher award from both Youth America Grand Prix and National Ballet Competition, in addition to the Outstanding School award from NBC. Ms. Janiszewski is thrilled to be a part of the Ellison Ballet Faculty.
Natalia Sheptalova-Robinett | Character, Ballet History
Natalia Sheptalova graduated as a ballet artist from the renowned Moscow Classical Ballet Academy under direction of Gennady Ledyakh / Moscow, Russia (Bolshoi Ballet curriculum) as well as received her bachelors degree in the ballet and theatre history from The Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts, former known as GITIS.
Ms. Sheptalova was a soloist with The Russian National Ballet under directions of Sergei and Elena Radchenko and The Moscow Festival Ballet. She was touring nationally and internationally with a large classical repertoire such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, La Bayadere, Carmen, Paquita, and more. Upon moving to the U.S.A. in 2009, she worked as a principal dancer with Metropolitan Ballet Minnesota, Victoria Ballet Theatre, American Swiss Ballet NY and others. For several years, Ms. Sheptalova was a faculty member at Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Academy NY as well as a part of Gelsey Kirkland Studio Company. Ms. Sheptalova has also taught technique and character dance for The Connecticut Ballet, Joffrey Ballet school, NY, Jewish Dance Institute, NY, Haryama Ballet NY, Princeton Dance and Theater studios, Fadeyev Ballet, American Swiss Ballet and others. She is fully dedicated to sharing the art of classical and character dance with each of her students.
Juan Rodriguez | Contemporary
Juan Rodriguez began his training as a scholarship student at The Ailey School where he was the recipient of The Donna Wood Award. He furthered his training at The Juilliard School earning a BFA under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Upon graduating, Juan danced professionally with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and has freelanced with others. He has performed works by Hans Van Manen, William Forsythe, Alonzo King, Nicolo Fonte, Jodie Gates, Edwaard Liang and Dwight Rhoden. He has choreographed for The Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Steps Conservatory, Broadway Dance Center and Buglisi Dance Theater. He has taught at The Ailey School, BDC, Steps on Broadway, Ballet Academy East, Dance Theater of Harlem, Peridance, French Academie of Ballet, Vassliev Academy of Classical Ballet, Princeton University and Adelphi University. 
Ashley Carter | Contemporary
Ashley has performed and choreographed at venues such as Jacob's Pillow, Teatro Madrid, The Barrow Street Theater, SummerStage, Battery Dance Festival, The Highline Ballroom, Webster Hall, BB Kings and Carnival Choreographer's Ball. She has taught at Ballet Academy East, various schools in Mexico and Spain, Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Ballet Arts, Lines Dance Center, University of Hawaii, Tony Williams Dance Center, and Green St Studios.  She has worked alongside artists such as Ricky Martin, NeYo, Lady Sovereign, and Nicki Minaj, for companies like Pilobolus, Balasole, Derek Mitchell, Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions, Ruddur Dance, Momentum Dance Theater, Daniel Gwirtzman, the Little Opera Theatre of NY, Rachel Thorne Germond and Balasole, and for brands such as Nike, Athleta, Nokia, Pixar, Microsoft, Heineken, Yahoo, Ameriprise, the Rachel Ray Show and Lush Cosmetics. She has been seen off-Broadway in West Side Story and 3 to 1. Ashley performed in a music video for Sia, for a Boost Mobile commercial, a feature film with Justin Timberlake, and is credited with choreographing independent feature film "The Ride of Tom and Valkyrie" and the musicals "Dragula" and "Parallel Lines."  Ashley was featured in the original dance film "Here We Go Again," in "Barber of Seville" with the Amore Opera, and worked on a production of "Peter Pan" for Broadway Asia. Ashley has choreographed several full-length shows for the her company DoubleTake Dance (www.DoubleTakeDanceCo.com) (co-director Vanessa Martínez de Baños). Choreographic commissions include the world-renowned Dancing Wheels Company, HT Chen's NewSteps, JPAC's Next Stage Residency, and the Montclair Performing Arts program, as well as a choreography grant from Eryc Taylor Dance. Ashley's choreography has been featured in the YAGP Finals two years in a row, has won many awards at regional and national competitions, and is in high demand in New York, throughout the US, and abroad.
Ursula Verduzco | Contemporary
Ms. Verduzco is a freelance ballet and contemporary dancer and choreographer born in Mexico and residing in NYC since 1997. She danced featured roles with companies including Ballet Austin (as a student), New York City Opera, Benjamin Briones Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Connecticut Ballet, Some Dance Company, Veracity Dance Theatre, New York Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre in Westchester, Ad Hoc Ballet, Ballet Neo, and Designated Movement Company among others, performing in classical and contemporary repertoire. She was honored to appear in Dance Magazine as one of the dancers highlighted in their July 2010 issue, “Race & The Next Generation.” As a choreographer she has created several commissioned works throughout the years for Ellison Ballet, Youth America Grand Prix, Benjamin Briones Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Nomad Contemporary Ballet, Periapsis Music and Dance, Neville Dance Theatre, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, CounterPointe as well as for the Cuban dance company Danza Libre. She created original work for the UK film company "More than a Londoner's" short film project. In 2018, she was commissioned to create a piece for the 28th Anniversary of Cuban company Danza Libre and was invited to participate at the Grand Prix Vladimir Malakhov in Holguin Cuba with it. She was commissioned a second time to create an original work for Danza Libre in 2020 to be premiered at their 30th Anniversary Gala. She is the Founder and Director of The Latin Choreographers Festival, an initiative that was born to support the work, vision, and background of Latin choreographers that reside anywhere in the world and had a successful run from 2008 to 2012, celebrating its 5th Anniversary.
Elizabeth Sullivan (Wellness)
​Elizabeth A. Sullivan was a professional ballerina with the Cleveland/San Jose and Boston Ballet companies. After earning a BA at Dartmouth College and an MA at Columbia University, Elizabeth returned to dance in her current capacity as a wellness coach, consultant, and teacher. Since 2011, she has taught workshops and seminars in the School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School, Ellison Ballet, the Boston Ballet School, Cary Ballet, Greenwich Ballet Academy, and the Kansas City Ballet School, among others. Elizabeth coaches young dancers and their parents in her private practice, helping them navigate the ins and outs of the dance world. Her dancers have trained at elite schools like the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet Schools in London, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre; they have won medals at Youth America Grand Prix, Prix de Lausanne, been invited to compete at IBC Jackson and Varna, and received job offers from major world companies like American Ballet Theatre, the English National Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet. She is a certified Wellness Coach through the American College of Sports Medicine and Wellcoaches School of Coaching, as well as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. For consultations or to enroll in her group or private coaching programs, please visit easullivan.com/discovery-session/
ACCOMPANISTS
Olga Bazilevskaya
Irina Fedorova
Igor Pancevski 
​Irina Milko​

​Past Guest Faculty have included:
Akop Akopian
​Gaiane Akopian
​Jacqueline Achmedova
Peter Brandenhoff
Larisa Calero
Eva Evdokimova
Gabriel Garcia
Maina Gielgud
Anna-Marie Holmes
Gelsey Kirkland
Yulia Rakova
Anne-Sophie Rodriguez
​Albina Sidletska
​Sabir Yapparov

Past Repetiteurs/Choreographers have included:
Maina Gielgud
Michael Shannon
Christopher Fleming
Fabrice Herrault
Anne-Sophie Rodriguez
Gabriela Garcia
Jason Ambrose
Karina Elver
Ursula Verduzco
​Carlos Dos Santos
Akop Akopian
Gaiane Akopian