2024 summer faculty


​Summer 2025 faculty coming soon!

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 | PCI, EBSI: 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 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.
Gaiane Akopian | PCI, 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. 
Eva Janiszewski | PCI, 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.
Irina Dvorovenko | EBSI: Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations
​A former principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, Irina Dvorovenko was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and began her ballet training at the Kiev Ballet School at the age of ten. She joined the National Opera Ballet of Kiev in 1990 as a soloist, rising to the rank of principal dancer in 1992. Notable awards include the 1994 Grand Prix at the International Ballet Competition Serge Lifar in the Ukraine, the 1992 Gold Medal and “Anna Pavlova” Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow, the 1991 Bronze Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Osaka, Japan, and the 1990 Silver Medal at the International Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Joining American Ballet Theatre in 1996, Ms. Dvorovenko was made a soloist in 1997 and was appointed principal dancer in 2000. Her diverse repertoire with ABT includes her commanding portrayal of both Nikya and Gamzatti in La Bayadère; Cinderella in Ben Stevenson’s production; Kitri, the Queen of the Driads and Mercedes in Don Quixote; the Lilac Fairy and Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty; Odette-Odile in Swan Lake; Giselle and Myrta in Giselle; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; Marguerite in “Lady of the Camellias,” Tatiana in Onegin; the title roles in Raymonda; Swanilde in Coppélia; the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker; Medora in Le Corsaire; and many more. She has danced with the Finnish Ballet, the Australian Ballet, the New York City Opera Ballet, the Rome Opera Ballet, Verona Ballet, the Universal Ballet, and with the Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet. She has also appeared in various videos and television specials, including the PBS broadcast of the opening of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She has been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, Pointe, Japan Dance Magazine (twice), New York Dance Fax (three times), as well as in People, Russian Dance Magazine, Dancing Times, Good Housekeeping, Bazaar, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Gotham, Jane, Elle, Russian Vogue, Town and Country, Time Out and Talk. In the spring of 2013, Ms. Dvorovenko retired from the ABT stage and simultaneously made her stunning musical theatre debut as Vera Baronova in the New York City Center Encores! production of Rodgers & Hart’s “On Your Toes,” garnering outstanding reviews. Following this triumph, Ms. Dvorovenko was invited to join the leading cast of the Starz network original television drama “Flesh and Bone,” which aired in November 2015. She also made guest appearances on “Forever” (ABC, 2015) and “The Blacklist” (NBC, 2016). She appeared in 4 episodes of the Starz series “Power” during the 2016-2017 season, and in 9 episodes of the FX series “The Americans” during the 2017 season. In 2018 she starred in both the New York City Center Encores! production of “Grand Hotel,” and as the lead May Bartram in the Vineyard Theatre production of Susan Stroman’s “The Beast in the Jungle.” Irina and her husband have been privately coaching a number of major dancers, including Skylar Brandt, Christine Shevchenko, Catherine Hurlin and Calvin Royal, among others, and continue to be in great demand for their superior skill and experience.

Natalia Sheptalova  | EBSI: Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations, Character 

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.
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 - NYC
Olga Bazilevskaya
Igor Pancevski
Irina Milko 
Satomi Yorozu
Marina Goriacheva 

Accompanists - LA
Inna Royter
EJ Cellik
Alla Plotkin
Ekaterina Sidorenko

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)