2023 summer faculty


Edward Ellison
Edward Ellison is the founder and artistic director of the Ellison Ballet - Professional Training Program 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, several universities and colleges throughout the U.S., as well as Steps on Broadway.  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 EB-PTP 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 also been featured in articles in Dance Magazine, Pointe, and Dance Spirit.
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Jolanta Valeikaite | EBSI: Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations; IRI: Russian Style Technique & Repertoire
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 and 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.
Bat Udval | EBSI: Classical Technique, Men's Variations, Pas de Deux
​Born in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, he graduated from the famous Perm Ballet School in Russia. Known internationally for his superb virtuosity and bravura technique, he was a principal dancer with the Russian State Ballet in Moscow, where he danced almost every major role in the classical repertoire and toured to over 40 countries. Mr. Udval received the silver medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 1993 and was invited to dance at major galas around the world, including those associated with Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova, Olga Lepeshinskaya, and others. His extensive teaching experience includes the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Baltimore School for the Arts, Korea International Ballet Competition, and Asian Ballet Competition. He has been a judge at the Korea International Ballet Competition, Asian Ballet Competition, World Ballet Art Grand Prix Competition, and World Ballet Grand Prix.
Evgenia Singur | EBSI, CVI: Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations, Character
Evgenia Singur graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. After the graduation, she joined the Russian State Ballet in Moscow. Ms Singur was a Soloist with Russian State Ballet where she performed Principal and Soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Q, Spartacus, Scheherazade, Les Sylphides, and many others. With the Russian Ballet she toured internationally to 30 countries. She has performed for the Queen of England, Kings of Oman and Dubai, and for many presidents. She has appeared several times in European and Russian dance magazines representing Grishko in ad campaigns. Her specialties are teaching ballet and character dance. She has taught at the Baltimore School for the Arts and the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC.
Gaiane Akopian | EBSI, CVI: 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. 
Akop Akopian | EBSI: Classical Technique, Men's Variations, Pas de Deux
Mr. 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. He is a choreographer for Figure Skaters and the Viennese Opera Ball/VB NY. He is former faculty and choreographer at Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet NY, where in March 2016 he choregraphed the world-premiere full-length ballet “Stealing Time; with Michael Chernov. Mr. Akopian has choreographed a variety of original pieces for schools and companies and prepares dancers for companions, working at Ellison Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Trainee, Michigan Ballet Academy, aFull-length Nutcracker, and his original full-length ballet “The Jungle Book- Mowgli,” as well as staged numerous ballet performances. He is a graduate from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Yerevan State Choreographic College, where he had the privilege to study under two of A. Vaganova’s former students: the ballet legends F. Balabina, and N. Dudinskaya.  Mr. Akopian also had the privilege to study under K. Sergeyev, W. Zimin, N. Serebryanikov and N. Mehrabyan. Upon graduation from the Vaganova Academy, he became a leading dancer in the Armenian National Theater Opera and Ballet in Yerevan.  In 1991, he danced with Classic Ballet de Montreal. In 1993, he was invited to Germany to join the Thuringian State Ballet. For the following seven years he became one of the most acclaimed principal dancers of the company. Mr. Akopian received the best dancer of the year award in 1997 and 1999, was praised in many European magazines and in a book entitled Musis-Sacrum published in Germany. In 2000, Mr. Akopian danced with Ballet New York.  In 2001, he was invited to join GRBC and for his work there he was recognized in many ballet magazines and other media sources. As a guest artist, Mr. Akopian has danced in numerous international galas around the world. He has had the opportunity to work with numerous ballet masters and choreographers including Dietmar Seyffert, Ludmilla Sakharova, Anahit Grigorian, Vilen Galstyan, Martin Wennde, Peter Martins, Judith Fugate and Nina Strogonova.  The leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, The Nutcracker, Eugene Onegin, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, Fierbird, Scherheresade, Paquita, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Enigma, Antuny, Wolfe, Ara Beautiful, Cinderella, various Balanchine pieces were among the roles Mr.Akopian danced throughout his career. Mr. Akopian worked as a Founder Artistic Director and Board of Directors member of Michigan Ballet Academy. He is very committed to excellence, likes to share his rich stage experience and feels very proud of his students who perform professionally in various ballet companies after studying under his guidance. 
Karin Averty | IRI: French Style Technique & Repertoire
​Karin Averty was born in France. Her ballet training began with Yvonne Goubé at the Centre de Danse de Paris. In 1973, she was admitted to the Paris Opera Ballet School and joined the company in September 1979 at age 16. In July 1980, she received international recognition early in her career when she won the Grand Prix at the International Ballet Competition in Varna. In 1983, she rose to Premiere Danseuse at the Paris Opera Ballet. Under Artistic Director Rudolf Nureyev, Karin performed leading roles in his versions of Raymonda, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadere. She danced in masterpieces by prestigious choreographers such Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Patrice Bart, August Bournonville, Nils Christe, Agnes De Mille, Michel Fokine, Martha Graham, James Kudelka, Pierre Lacotte, Harald Lander, Serge Lifar, Kenneth McMillan, John Neumeier, Vaslav Nijinsky, Jerome Robbins, Leo Stats, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor and Hans Van Mannen. In 1986, the Paris Opera Ballet Friends Association (AROP) awarded her its Prix du Public. The following year, William Forsythe chose Karin to be in the original cast of In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. In August 1987, Karin took a one-year leave of absence from the Paris Opera Ballet to become a Principal Dancer with the San Francisco Ballet under Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson. In 2003, Karin received her official ballet teaching diploma, the Diplöme d'Etat de Professeur de Danse. In 2004, the Prime Minister of France honored her with the National Merit Order as a Chevalier (Knight). Since 2009, Karin has been a freelance ballet teacher and coach for ballet companies, universities and ballet schools, among them: Juilliard, Alvin Ailey, ABT/JKO, The Rock School, Boston Ballet, Ballet West and Kansas City Ballet. She has served as a judge for international ballet competitions such as Varna and the Youth America Grand Prix. From 2016-2019, Karin was on the ABT JKO School Faculty. From 2019-2020, Karin was appointed ABT Studio Company Ballet Mistress. She has taught, staged works, judged competitions, and served as a rehearsal director for prestigious summer programs, schools, companies, and competitions across the country including Boston Ballet, Ballet West, Alberta Ballet Canada​, and Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance Chicago. Karin is a Steps on Broadway ballet faculty member teaching on Friday and Sunday in-studio and virtual open classes.
Nilas Martins | IRI: Balanchine & Bournonville Style Technique & Repertoire
Nilas Martins, born in Copenhagen, received his early dance training at the Royal Danish Ballet School. As a student he performed with the Royal Danish Ballet in such works as John Neumeier’s Romeo and Juliet, August Bournonville’s Konservatoriet, A Folk Tale, Napoli and Glen Tetleys’s Firebird. In 1984, he moved to New York and enrolled at the School of American Ballet. In September 1986 he became a member of New York City Ballet. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of soloist and in 1993 to Principal dancer. In New York City Ballet, Mr. Martins danced numerous featured roles and worked closely with choreographers: John Alleyne, Lynn Taylor Corbett, Boris Eifman, William Forsythe, Peter Martins, Trey McIntyre, Kevin O’Day, Jerome Robbins, Susan Stroman, Richard Tanner among others. Mr. Martins film credits include: “Live from Lincoln Center” broadcast of Ray Charles in Concert, “The Nutcracker” released in 1993 by Warner Brothers, “Dance in America” telecast of “Dinner with Balanchine” where he danced the role of Apollo with Paris Opera Etoile Isabel Guerin. “Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100” where he danced ‘The Man I Love’ from Who Cares? featuring Wynton Marsalis. Mr. Martins ‘ teaching resume’ include Armitage Gone Dance, BalletMet, Boston Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Harvard University, Indiana University, Joffrey Ballet School, Miami City Ballet, National Ballet of China, NBA Ballet (Japan), New York City Ballet, Novosibirsk Ballet (Russia), NYSSA Summer Intensive, Princeton University, Royal Danish Ballet, School of American Ballet and Washington Ballet. Mr. Martins was one of ten fellows selected from both domestic and international applicants, to study under Michael Kaiser as a Devos Institute for Arts Management fellow at the Kennedy Center from 2010-11. Since 1996, Mr. Martins has been a Repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust and stages ballets for companies and schools domestically as well as internationally. In addition to his work with the Balanchine Trust, Mr. Martins stagings include his own choreography, along with ballets from the August Bournonville and Peter Martins repertoire.
Eva Janiszewski | EBSI, CVI: 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 Summer Intensive Faculty.
Zippora Karz | IRI: Guest Faculty - Balanchine Style Technique
Zippora Karz is a former soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet where she performed for 16 years on stage and in televised performances. She was featured in a variety of roles choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins as well as works choreographed for her by such choreographers as Peter Martins and Lynne Taylor Corbett. Today, as a repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, Zippora stages Balanchine ballets for schools and companies around the globe. Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 21,  she is passionate today about motivating others to take care of themselves and live their dreams. She is the author of, The Sugarless Plum, as well as her children’s story, Ballerina Dreams. www.zipporakarz.com
Olga Bazilevskaya | EBSI: Music
A graduate of Moscow Conservatory College (Russia), Ms. Bazilevskaya brings with her 30 years of experience in music. Between 1974 and 1990, she taught piano at The Music School in Moscow and the Moscow Military Music College. Ms. Bazilevskaya moved to New York in 1990 where she was the musical director of Ballet Hispanico for seven years as well as Gelsey Kirkland Ballet for six years.  For over twenty years she has worked with professional dance companies and schools as an accompanist, such as Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, Juilliard School, Ballet Trockadero, Ellison Ballet, Steps on Broadway and Ballet Academy East. Olga also is an accomplished piano teacher and has developed a unique music workshop for dancers.
Vladimir Dvorovenko | EBSI: Character
Vladimir Dvorovenko graduated from the Kiev State Ballet School and State University of Art, where he went on to perform as Principal dancer and traveled extensively with Virsky Ukrainian State Dance Company, as well is Veriovka Ukrainian National Dance Company and Yatran Ukrainiant National Dance Company. Vladimir Dvorovenko was Director and Choreographer of Ukraine’s Shumka Ballet Academy for Children as well as Ballet Master for Star of the Ukrainian Circus. He has taught at the ABT Summer Intensive and teaches now at the Alvin Ailey School.

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Juan Rodriguez | EBSI, PDD: Contemporary, Contemporary Pas de Deux
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 | EBSI: 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.
Elizabeth Sullivan | EBSI: 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
Irina Fedorova
​Olga Bazilevskaya
​Igor Pancevski
Irina Milko

Faculty and Guest Faculty have included
Jason Ambrose (contemporary)
Pascal Autrand (classical, contemporary)
Tatiana Berenova (classical)
Larisa Calero (character)
Irina Dvorovenko (classical)
Lyubov Fominih (classical)
Dionisia Garcia (flamenco)
Gabriel Garcia (theater dance)
Maina Gielgud (classical, mime/acting)
Gelsey Kirkland (classical)
Nadia Pavlenko (classical)
​Olga Pavlova (classical)
Yulia Rakova (classical)
Anne-Sophie Rodriguez (classical)
Dmitri Roudnev (classical)