2021 Teachers
Chika Temma
Chika started ballet training with her mother at Tokuko Temma School in Japan. At age 16 she was accepted to train at the Royal Ballet School in London (Teachers Dame Merle Park & Svetlana Beriosova). In her final year of training Chika took the Russian State Examination for Professional Ballet Dancers at Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. She also had the opportunity to attend Berlin State Ballet School by invitation after attending their summer school.
Upon graduation from Vaganova Ballet Academy Chika was offered a contract to dance with St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre for 7 years where she was promoted to Soloist then Principal dancer after performing the title role in Swan Lake and many other leading roles. Chika toured internationally and performed at Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre, Hermitage Theatre, Pushkin Theatre, Mussorgsky Theatre and many others.
Since moving to the UK Chika joined Swansea Ballet Russe as Principal Dancer, Guest Principal dancer for Cork City Ballet and performed Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and many others. Chika also directed Swansea Ballet Russe for 10 years.
Yury Demakov
Yury started vocational ballet training at the age of 10 when he was accepted to world famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia.
Upon graduation from Bolshoi Ballet Academy Yury was invited to dance as principal dancer for St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre. With the company he performed at Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre and many others, touring internationally for 15 years.
Since moving to the UK Yury was Artistic Director of Swansea Ballet Russe as well as performing Principal roles. Yury is also Guest Choreographer and Ballet Master for Cork City Ballet where he has created many classical ballet repertoires including Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty for the company. He is also Guest Teacher for Matthew Bourne’s New Adventure Dance Company, Russian Icons Gala, English National Ballet School and many other schools & companies in Japan, Ireland & UK.
Elena Glurdjidze
Elena graduated from The Vaganova Ballet Academy. Elena is a Former Lead Principal Dancer with English National Ballet. In 2009 Elena was nominated for Best Female Dancer at The Critics Circle Awards. She has also won the 2007 & 2008 Ballet.co.uk Audience Poll for Best Female Dancer, won Best Partner Award at 7th Perm Open Competition in 2002, won the Bronze Medal at The Moscow International Ballet Competition 1997 & won the 8th Paris International Competition of Soloists. Elena is now Artistic Director of Masters of Ballet Academy, London.
Kirill Burlov
Kirill graduated from Riga Choreography School in 1996. Kirill is a former Soloist with Latvian National Opera House. Since moving to the UK he has worked with organisations such as Royal Opera House, Rambert Dance Company & English National Ballet to name a few. He then joined Rambert Dance Company as a dancer and choreographed eight pieces for Rambert’s repertory.
Kirill taught at BRBS Summer Intensive last year, and this year he will be teaching contemporary dance to our Senior groups.
Guzel Atymtayeva
Guzel is a Former Soloist/Principal Dancer with Moscow Festival Ballet, Kazan State Academic Ballet, Swansea Ballet Russe and Cork City Ballet. Guzel guest teaches for Youth Ballet Company and Holiday Courses. Guzel is Artistic Director for Russian Classical Ballet in Swansea.
Guzel will be guest teaching our Junior and Senior groups.
Isabella Mcguire Mayes
Isabella trained at Royal Ballet School and then became the first British girl to join the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg Russia at 15 where she studied for 4 years. She joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Russia as a soloist and later danced with Eifman Ballet. She has performed in many theatres around the world including the Royal Opera House and the Mariinsky Theatre. Isabella is currently a freelance dancer and teacher giving group and private lessons in London.
Isabella will be giving a masterclass to our Senior groups.
Rachel Hernon
Rachel was born in 1989, she began her vocational ballet training at Elmhurst School for Dance in Association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In 2006 she was invited to the Perm State Choreographic Academy in Russia. In 2009 she graduated from the Perm State Choreographic Academy, Russia and was awarded the Diploma as an Artist of Classical Ballet by the Russian Federation. In 2019 Rachel joined Moscow City Ballet. She plays leading roles such as Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
Rachel will be a Guest teacher for the Junior groups.
Previous Guest Teachers
Irina Zavialova
Irina graduated from Vaganova Ballet Academy, St Petersburg. She is a Former Principal of Mariinsky Theatre, Staatsoper Ballet Bonn, Royal Ballet Flanders & Peter Shaufuss Ballet. Irina has been a Guest Dancer with Tokyo Ballet, Kirov Ballet & Essen Ballet. Irina is currently Associate Professor of Classical Ballet at Oslo National Academy of the Arts. She also guest teaches for Kirov Ballet Academy, Brussels International Ballet School and many more.
Maya Ivanovna
Maya Ivanova is a graduate of the Perm State Choreographic College. From 1992-2013, Ms. Ivanova was a principal dancer of the Russian State Ballet Theatre of Moscow, where she performed leading roles in “Swan Lake”, “The Nutcracker”, “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Giselle”, “Cinderella” as well as in many others. In 2011, Ms. Ivanova received her graduate degree with honors from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy specializing in Pedagogy and Choreography.
Olga Semenova
Olga graduated from The Vaganova Ballet Academy. Her mother, Ludmila Komissarova, was one of the last students to study under the great Agrippina Vaganova herself. After her ballet career Olga completed a 4 year professional teaching/ coaching course at The Vaganova Ballet Academy and was awarded the PDTC Diploma with Distinction and MA (Hons). Olga has taught for Junior & Pre-Graduation classes at The Vaganova Ballet Academy, taught at English National Ballet School & Central School of Ballet. Olga is currently Artistic Director of Masters of Ballet Academy, London