History and Philosophy of IBT

The International Ballet Theatre (IBT) was founded in 2001 by artistic director, Vera Altunina, Ballet Master and choreographer from the State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. 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), Don Quixote, Grand Pas from Raymonda and Paquita.

VERA ALTUNINA - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

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.

JANA MALLOY - Rehearsal Assistant

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

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.

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.

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, 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.