Founders
Chika Temma
Artistic Director
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
Artistic Director
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.
Teachers
Anna Secanska
Ballet Teacher
Anna was trained at Bratislava Conservatory (Professional Ballet School) in Slovakia.
Upon graduation she was accepted to dance as a professional ballet dancer at Slovakia National Ballet Theatre.
Since moving to the UK Anna joined Bristol Russian Ballet School and teaches younger groups of the school.
Noemi Varhegyi
Assistant Ballet Teacher
Noemi started her Ballet training at age 7 with Chika Temma at Bristol Russian Ballet School.
She is currently Soloist dancer for Bristol Russian Ballet Youth Ballet Company and performed Princess Florine in Sleeping Beauty and many other roles in Le Corsaire , Coppelia, Paquita , Swan Lake and Nutcracker.
Guest Teachers
Irina Zavialova
Ballet Teacher
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.
Guzel Atymtayeva
Ballet & Character Teacher
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.
Sara Knight
Ballet & Floor Barre Teacher
Sara is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School in London and the first British graduate of Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg.
Upon graduation Sara went on to become a soloist of Leningrad State Ballet Theatre and Russian Ballet of St. Petersburg. She has also danced with Northern Ballet Theatre, Swansea’s Ballet Russe and was a Guest Dancer for Boston Ballet in USA.
Sara has a wide range of teaching experience having served as Ballet Mistress for London’s Central School of Ballet and Ellison Ballet in NYC. She has recently founded SLK Ballet School and in 2017 she founded her Company Chevalier Ballet.
Kirill Burlov
Contemporary Teacher
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.
Previous Guest Dancers
Elena Glurdjidze ~ Former Principal Dancer of English National Ballet
Yat Sen Chang ~ Former Principal Dancer of English National Ballet
Arionel Vargas ~ Former Principal Dancer of English National Ballet
Asami Takai ~ Former Principal Dancer of Cork City Ballet
Philipp Bolloev ~ Top Ten YAGP New York City Finals, danced in Russia, USA, France, Switzerland, Spain, Finland & Taiwan
Rachel Victoria Hernon ~ Former Principal Dancer of Vienna Festival Ballet and currently Principal Dancer of Moscow City Ballet
Dean Rushton ~ Former Principal Dancer of Vienna Festival Ballet and Guest Dancer for Ballet West
Admin Team
Laura Treharne
Organisational & Administrative Support
