History and Philosophy of IBT

The International Ballet Theatre (IBT) was founded in 2001 by artistic director, Vera Altunina, former dancer with the Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg, and world-renowned choreographer. IBT is committed to the preservation of classical ballet repertoire by presenting productions that reflect traditional as well as original choreography. Featuring elegant costumes, vivid sets, and a touch of magic, all performances are richly entertaining for audiences of all ages. IBT performances inspire imagination, and an appreciation of the performing arts, through the creativity and beauty of dance. IBT is affiliated with the International School of Classical Ballet.

IBT's repertoire includes: Chippolino, Coppelia, Dracula, Giselle, Les Sylphides, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty (Act III) also known as "Aurora's Wedding", Swan Lake (Act II).

Artistic Director - Vera Altunina

Vera Altunina is a world-renowned and respected choreographer and ballet master from St. Petersburg, Russia, who has brought her talents and love of dance to the U.S. Her extraordinary talent, creativity, professionalism, and passionate commitment to dance have earned her international acclaim.

Ms. Altunina began her ballet career at age five. In 1973, she was accepted by the world-famous Vaganova Ballet School and graduated in 1981. She furthered her studies at The Leningrad College of Cultural Education and graduated with distinction with two Bachelor's Degrees: Director of Performing Arts and Pedagogue, specializing in Performing Arts. While dancing professionally, she continued her education at the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory. In 1993, she earned her Master's Degree in Choreography and became a Ballet Master, specializing in Ballet Direction.

In 1993, Ms. Altunina came to the United States and continued to distinguish herself in choreography and ballet instruction. She was the lead ballet instructor and choreographer for the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and a guest instructor for Cornish College of the Arts, Ewajo Dance Workshop, Whidbey Island Dance School, Olympic Ballet School, Ballet Bellevue School, Everett Chorale, and Issaquah Chorale.

Ms. Altunina's extensive credentials include dancing professionally in both classical and character dance and choreographing and staging of new and classical productions such as Giselle, Paquita, Chopiniana, The Nutcracker and Raymonda in Russia and in the United States.

In 2001, Ms. Altunina founded the International Ballet Theatre, which performs classical ballet repertoire choreographed for audiences of all ages. She also founded the International School of Classical Ballet where she teaches classical dance, pointe, variations, and character dance.

Dancers

Principals and Current Guest Artists

Dmitry Zavalishin and Maria Makarenko

from the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly Kirov Ballet), St. Petersburg starred in IBT's recent production of Don Quixote.

Anton Pankevitch

Mr. Pankevitch danced the role of Jonathan Harker in IBT's 2006 production of Dracula. Mr. Pankevitch was formerly a dancer with New York City Ballet (NYC), Dutch National Ballet (Amsterdam), and Royal Ballet (London). His repertoire encompasses classical and contemporary ballet with more than thirty productions including Firebird, Romeo and Juliet, Paquitta, and Les Sylphides. He performed leading roles in Kent Stowell's Hail to the Conquering Hero and The Nutcracker (Prince), as well as works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, August Bournoville, William Forsythe, Magey Marin, Marius Petipa, Jerome Robbins, Ton Simons, Twyla Tharp, Rudi van Dantzig, Hans van Manen, and Toer van Schayk, among others. Mr. Pankevitch is currently a member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). He is also an instructor with the International School of Classical Ballet (ISCB), teaching men's classes, pas de deux, and ballet.

Soloists

RYAN BURTON

has danced since the age of twelve under the direction of Vera Altunina. He is currently a member of the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet and has performed in many productions: The Nutcracker, Chippolino, Dracula, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. He has attended several summer intensive programs, including the Joffrey Workshop, American Ballet Theatre and the Houston Ballet Academy.

SOPHIE EDWARDS

was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she first started dancing at the age of four. She is currently a member of the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet. She has also danced with the Southwest Ballet Company (NM), Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and Ballet Bellevue. Her performances include: Dracula, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Coppelia, and Chipollino.

HAYLEY FRIDENSTINE

has trained with International School of Classical Ballet since she was eleven, and is currently a member of the Professional Division. She began dancing at the age of four and has performed many roles including the Flowers solo and Snow in The Nutcracker, and a Wili in Giselle. She also participated in the Jazz Performance Ensemble. Besides her passion for dance, Hayley is fascinated with Russian history and recently experienced her second trip to St. Petersburg, Russia with other students from ISCB. "I think I like performances more than any other part of dance. When everyone is watching me, I feel like all my training comes together in one place at one time."

KRISTIE LaMAR

began dancing at the age of six in Fresno, California. At age 11, she joined Olympic Ballet Theatre where she danced for three years. She joined the International Ballet Theatre in 2001 and became a soloist in 2003. Under the direction of Vera Altunina, IBT Artistic Director, Kristie has performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake Act II, "Aurora's Wedding" from Sleeping Beauty (Act III), Dracula and Don Quixote. She is also a highly accomplished performer in Modern dance, Jazz, Tap, Character and Theater Dance. In February 2004, she traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, to compete in International Ballet Competition. Kristie is currently a soloist with IBT and also teaches Ballet in International School of Classical Ballet.

MATTHEW LATIF WHITE

graduated from the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet in 2005, and has danced with IBT since he was thirteen years old. Previously, he trained at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He is also trained in Jazz, Modern, Tap, Theatre, and Character dance. Latif has danced leading roles in numerous productions including: The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Chippolino, Coppelia and Don Quixote.

Corps du Ballet

ANALIESE BURKE

is a member of the Professional Division of the International School of Classical Ballet and has performed many roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. She loves to dance and looks forward to many years of performing.

ERICA CLARK

has been studying classical ballet since the age of seven, as well as taking classes in Character, Jazz, and Modern dance. She is a member of the Professional Division of the International School of Classical Ballet. Her favorite ballets are Don Quixote, Swan Lake, and the Sleeping Beauty. She loves expressing beauty and emotion through the art of dance.

ELLA HOWELL

has been dancing since she was seven and currently is a member of the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet. Ella is motivated by the beauty of music; she dances purely from her heart and for the life of the music.

FIONA KUIPERS

SAM KOLODEZH

started dancing when he was seven years old in Pennsylvania. He loves to dance, and enjoys the style of Character dance the most. He has been dancing with International Ballet Theatre since 1999. Besides dancing, Sam enjoys playing guitar in his free time.

JANELL MIDDLETON

is a member of the Professional Division of the International School of Classical Ballet. She is also trained in Jazz, Modern, Character and Theatre Dance. Since 2006 she is an IBT company member and performed in numerous productions including: The Nutcracker, Dracula, and Don Quixote.

EMILEE PUTSCHE

has trained under the direction of Vera Altunina since she was eight years old. She is currently a member of the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet. In addition to ballet, Emilee also trains in Modern, Tap, Character, and Jazz dance. Some of her favorite roles have included Little Clara, Mouse Queen and Mirliton from The Nutcracker, as well as many others. She attended the summer intensive program at Lines Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Burklyn Ballet Theatre and traveled with the company to Edinburgh, Scotland to perform in the Fringe Festival as part of the cast of Beauty and the Beast.

PHILLIP RUSH

CELESTE SARGIN

BREE SWANSON

has been dancing since she was three years old, and is a member of the Professional Division of International School of Classical Ballet. She also trained at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. During the summer of 2005, she traveled with fellow ISBC students to St. Petersburg, Russia to attend classes with the world's leading ballet masters.

KATIE WEBER

joined International Ballet Theatre in 2004. Her heroes are Suzanne Farrell, Margot Fonteyn, Anna Pavlova, & Gillian Murphy.

Apprentices

TBA

Character Artists

Teresa Anderson, Carol Carrillo, April Curtis, Suzette Madson, Jana Malloy, Peter Magolske, Hiromi Rudd, Wakako Tashiro

IBT Dancers Moving On

BRILEY NEUGEBAUER- State University of Arizona, dance program major with scholarship
MILES PERTL - Stuttgart Ballet
JULIA OSTROVSKAIA - Winnipeg Ballet
GUNTER HERD – University of Washington

Artistic Staff

Ballet & Character

Jana Malloy

Jana is a native of Los Angeles, California, where she trained with the famous Russian dancer and teacher, Tatiana Riabouchinska-Lichine. She received numerous scholarships to the Stanley Holden Dance Center and the Pennsylvania Ballet School. Her career further progressed when she joined the Los Angeles Ballet in 1975 and later, Ballet West in 1979. While with Ballet West, she performed as a soloist in such classical works as Giselle and Swan Lake as well as in many Balanchine ballets. Jana joined the Pacific Ballet Theatre in 1984, which later became Oregon Ballet Theatre under the artistic direction of James Canfield. While there, Jana performed in Equinoxe, Between Two worlds, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker. Her most notable roles were Carlotta Grisi in Pas de Quatre and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Additionally, Jana danced with the Portland Opera in productions of The Merry Widow, Carmen and Show Boat.

In addition to her career in Ballet, Jana has also danced in three motion pictures, "Footloose", "Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".

In International School of Classical Ballet Jana Malloy teaches Ballet.

Guest Teacher

Jerry Tassin- Choreographer

Jerry Tassin began his ballet training with Perry Brunson at the Seattle Dance Center where he also studied jazz, flamenco, and modern dance. He went on to apprentice with First Chamber Dance Company, and then as a soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Mr. Tassin met his wife Kimberly when they were both dancing at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. They toured North and South America as adagio dancers with several dance companies and returned to the northwest in 1984 when Jerry joined Actors Equity Union with a production of "Guys and Dolls" at the Seattle Repertory Theater. After performing locally in theater Mr. Tassin then moved to New York where he joined the American Dance Machine, a musical theatre dance company, where he performed in New York City and toured.

Jerry and Kimberly returned to Seattle. Jerry joined Spectrum Dance Company and went on to teach his varied style of jazz, tap, and theater dance in the Puget Sound area.

In International School of Classical Ballet Jerry Tassin teaches Jazz, Theatre Dance and Tap.

Modern

Eva Stone - Choreographer

Eva L. Stone received a B.F.A in Performance and Choreography from Arizona State University under renowned instructors such as Daniel Nagrin, Renee Wadleigh and Mel Wong. After graduation, she was awarded a scholarship from DanceMagazine to study choreography at Harvard University with David Gordon. Ms. Stone continued her training at SUNY Purchase, The Ailey Studio in New York and danced professionally in Boston and Los Angeles. She continued her education in the United Kingdom and earned a Master of Arts degree in Choreography and Choreological Studies from the Laban Centre in London. Ms. Stone then formed the Stone Dance Collective, a modern dance company, and began teaching at various colleges in and around London. Ms. Stone came to Seattle in 1995, re-established her company and began an extensive teaching and lecturing career throughout the Puget Sound area. Some highlights have included presenting work at On the Boards, Bumbershoot and Broadway Performance Hall, as well as premiering an original work at Lincoln Center in New York City. Ms. Stone has appeared as a guest teacher at Western Washington University and has been a faculty member of both Olympic Ballet School and Washington Academy of Performing Arts. Her love of teaching and passion for choreography has resulted in the creation of over 50 original dance pieces.

In International School of Classical Ballet Eva L. Stone teaches Modern dance and Choreography.

Guest Instructors

The International Ballet Theatre and The International School of Classical Ballet, under the artistic direction of Vera Altunina, has developed an international reputation for hosting visiting instructors from among the world's most prestigious ballet companies.

"We believe it is crucial for our students to have the opportunity to study with the world's great instructors and artistic directors", said Ms. Vera Altunina. "It gives them a "real-world" example of what the life of a professional dancer is like."

Boris Akimov, former Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet

Boris Akimov joined the Bolshoi Ballet in 1965 and was soon a principal. He became known for his elegant and graceful technical virtuosity and carefully thought out characterizations. A born teacher, he is one of the Bolshoi's best-loved pedagogues, equally admired by top companies in Japan, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Germany, Holland, and England. He has been appointed director of the Moscow Choreographic Institute--the official school for the Bolshoi Ballet and his alma mater--taking over from Sofia Golovkina, who led the school for close to forty years. He became the Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Ballet in 2000.

Yoko Hamma

In 2005, The International School of Classical Ballet (ISCB) in Kirkland welcomed visiting instructor, Yoko Homma, the first Japanese woman to study at the Bolshoi Ballet. Ms. Homma taught master classes to advanced students in classical ballet from April 28-May 7, 2005. Ms. Homma is a legend in Russia, and her instruction created a magnificent experience for all our upper level students.

Yoko Homma was born in Japan and entered the School of Tokyo Ballet at the age of 10. Six years later, the Russian Minister of Culture invited her to become the first Japanese woman to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Upon graduation, she joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company, and became as soloist, dancing the role of the bride in Swan Lake. Later she joined the Monte-Carlo Ballet Company, and traveled to Italy to dance as a soloist in Paquita and Giselle with Nuleev and Frachi. She returned to Japan and opened the Yoko Homma Classic Ballet School in her home town, Kamakura.

Sasha Radesky (former soloist with ABT and actor)

Sascha Radetsky, soloist with the American Ballet Theatre and film/TV star who played "Charlie" in Center Stage taught master classes to Professional Division and advanced students in classical ballet on September 24, 2005.

Born in Santa Cruz, California, Radetsky began his ballet studies in the San Francisco Bay Area with Damara Bennett and Ayako Takahashi. By 15, he was invited to Moscow's Bolshoi Academy underneath the renowned male 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.

Radetsky joined the ABT as an apprentice in 1995 and moved up to the corps in 1996. In 2000, he starred as Charlie, a dance student in the movie Center Stage. He reprised his role in pop singer Mandy Moore's music video "I Wanna Be With You" from the Center Stage soundtrack.

Radetsky became a soloist with ABT in 2003.

Guest Artists

Hamilton Nieh

Mr. Nieh has studied ballet in Hong Kong, the United States, and Spain, including a full scholarship with the San Francisco Ballet School, culminating in intensive training with the internationally renowned master teacher, Victor Ullate. In September 2004, Mr. Nieh joined the Sacramento Ballet. In 2005, he performed the title role in The Nutcracker with the Sacramento Ballet. He has also performed as a guest soloist at the Gala de Danza por la Paz Spain and was the lead dancer at the SGI World Peace Culture Festival in San Francisco (2001). His dream is to create world peace using the universal power of art to inspire the humanity of all people. Mr. Nieh is known for the intense passion and emotion he evokes during his performances.

• IBT Performances: An Evening of Russian Ballet (2006)

Evgeny Lushkin

Mr. Lushkin graduated from Perm State Academy in 1998, from the class of Professor Sacharov. Shortly after in 1998, he joined the St.Petersburg Ballet in St.Petersburg, Russia as a Principal Dancer. From 1998-99, he danced as a solist with the Stuttgart, Germany, where he worked together with Mr.V.Malachov. From 1999-2001, he performed with Russian State Ballet in Moscow as a Principal Dancer. During the season of 2001, Mr. Lushkin joined the Columbia Classical Ballet in Columbia, SC., as a Principal Dancer. In January 2004 he became a member of American Ballet Theater. In 2004, Mr. Lushkin joined the ISCB faculty teaching Ballet, Pas De Deux and Men's Class and danced as a guest artist in with International Ballet Theatre.

• IBT Performances: Coppelia, Dracula, and The Nutcracker (2004-2005)

Timour Bourtasenkov

Mr. Bourtasenkov began his professional dance education with the Moldavian Opera House and the Bolshoi Ballet and is currently a principal dancer with the Carolina Ballet. Mr. Bourtasenkov also dances with the New York based Daring Project, under the directorship of Valentina Kozlova and Margo Sappington. He is frequently a guest artist of companies in the U.S., South America, Europe, and Asia. He has performed George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, John Cranko, Frederick Ashton, Anthony Tudor, Jose Limon, Peter Martins, William Forsyth, Richard Tanner, Chirstopher Wheeldon, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Mr. Bourtasenkov has choreographed for Infinity Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and Metropolitan Ballet. His ballets include: Rag House, Elements, Memories, Dance of the Spirits, Light & Dark, and sections of Carolina Ballet's Messiah. He won the Bronze Medal in the VII Massako Ohyo World Ballet Competition of Japan and the V International Competition in Paris. He was awarded a jury prize at the Luxembourg International Ballet Competition.

• IBT Performances: Giselle (2003)

Yuri Andreev

Mr. Andreev was born in Tallin, Estonia. Upon graduation in 1991 from the Vagonova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, he was admitted to the Kirov Ballet Company as a soloist and has performed the roles of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Sesire in Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker in The Nutcracker, Spectre de la Rose, Basic in Don Quixote, in addition to leading roles in Les Sylphides, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet, and The Moor's Pavane. The recent premiers of Mr. Andreev in leading roles for movie ballet include: Waterloo Bridge, Shaman and Venera. In 2000, Mr. Andreev because a principal dancer of the St. Petersburg State Theater of Opera and Ballet and a guest artist for the Moscow Imperial Ballet under the direction of Maya Plisestskaya.

• IBT Performances: The Nutcracker (2003)