Company

Palos Verdes Ballet Association was Founded in June of 1981 and has a governing 

Board of Directors. It operates under the auspices of the Palos Vertdes Ballet Association.  The Association is a non-profit corporation with the specific goals of the bringing professional quality ballet performances to the Peninsula and the Los Angeles area.

Palos Verdes Ballet Executive Board

John P. Apostol * Uta Graf-Apostol * Harlan Comee*          

Erica Ferro* Manfred Ulbrich

Joseph Phillips danced with San Francisco Ballet for four years before joining Miami City Ballet as a Soloist. He won the Gold Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition, the first Prague International Ballet Competition, and the Youth American Grand Prix, and the Jury Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland.  Hailed by the press as “Ballet’s Golden Boy” he is a frequent guest artist at national and international festivals and with companies in the US and throughout the world.  Leading roles include Tarantella, Coppelia, Stars and Stripes, Symphony13, and Sleeping Beauty and “pas de deux” from Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, La Bayadère, Flames of Paris, and Diana and Acteon. 

MAXIM TCHERNYCHEV, born in Russia, at age of ten he began his training at the Novosibirsk Ballet Academy. In 1989 he graduated and was invited to join the Bolshoi Ballet under the direction of Yuri Grigorovich. Mr. Tchernychev toured throughout Russia, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Hong-Kong, Korea, Japan and the US. In 1993 His principal roles include Swan Lake, Giselle Don Quixote, Coppelia, Paquita, The Nutcracker, Serenade, Carmina Burana and others. Critics have praised his dancing for its energy and “thrillingly masculine style”. 

Brigida Giancaspero since 1987, trained and performed with Palos Verdes Ballet , and currently  is a member of the school's faculty. She has performed in Palos Verdes Ballet's entire repertoire with Principal roles in Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Pas de Quatre, and Sleeping Beauty and title roles in Firebird and Giselle. 

Sae Rom  Lee while with Palos Verdes Ballet attended summer programs with San Francisco Ballet, receiving scholarships from Vail Academy and Kirov Academy in Washington D.C. A former  member of Colorado Ballet invited and competed at the 2003 New York International Ballet Competition.  Memorable performances include Lead Principal  roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird and Dying Swan, which has become her signature role.

Performed with "The Stars of the Kirov Ballet" in  2004 and the Grand Pas-de Deux from Cinderella at the Russian Festival in Jekyll Island, Georgia in 2005. 

Ms. Lee is now part of the Palos Verdes Ballet and staff. 

Sayat Asatryan in dual role of E.T.A.Hoffmann/Dr.Drosselmeier. He was a principal ballet dancer with the Moscow Kremlin Ballet, touring internationally in South America, Europe, Japan, France, Egypt., Italy, China, Mexico. and U.S. He has performed leading roles in such classical and contemporary ballets as Don Quixote, Carmen, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker and Who Cares? Currently, he is a "freelance guest" ballet dancer and teacher.

Ellen Bigelow  trained at Palos Verdes Ballet performing principle roles in Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Paquita, and The Firebird.  Iinvited to summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Kirov and Boston Ballet. Participated in the 2003 "Youth Ameirca Grand Prix" ballet competition in New York. 

In 2004 Ellen performed with "The Stars of the Kirov Ballet" and at the Russian Festival  in Jekyll Island, Georgia in 2006. She currently attends Cincinnati University.

Adonis Daukaev graduated from the Vaganova Ballet School in St.Peterburg, Russia in 1985. He began his career as a principal dancer of the L'Vov Opera Ballet in the Ukraine dancing their complete classical repertoire. As a Guest Artist and principal dancer with the Gdansk Opera, Poland and the Salzburg State Theatre, Austria he performed in classical and modern repertoire. His choreographic works have received much acclaim.

Recently Mr. Daukaeev returned to the Palos Verdes Ballet to choreograph four new modern solos for students, participating in the 7th Annual Youth America Grand Prix.

Valery Tchekachev, Russian born, received his training at the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St Petersburg. He studied under the famous teacher , A. Pushkin  (M.Barishnikov graduated under A. Pushkin a few years earlier). Mr. Tchekachev danced with the Kirov ballet before joining the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre where he danced for over 20 years. During this time he toured, as a Principal Dancer, throughout Russia in addition to 46 countries worldwide. 

Artour Sangueli was born in Kishinev, capital of Moldova.  At age of 13 Sangueli entered the Zhok School, associated with the Zhok Folk Dance Company , Moldova's most prestigious folk company. Within two years he was accepted into Zhok, touring throughout Russia and Europe. He continues to teach and perform as a Principal Guest Artist. 

Olga Tchekachova was born in St.Petersburg, Russia and graduated from the Perm Ballet Academy. She has performed in starring roles and soloed with such internationally known ballet companies as the Kirov Ballet, St.Petersburg Classical Ballet and Bristol Ballet in England .She has performed leading roles in such classical ballets as Don Quixote, Giselle, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Silfida, La Bayadere and Swan Lake.

 In 2002 Ms. Tchekachova was promoted to Assistant Choreographer for the Don Quixote Ballet.  Olga Tchekachova was a finalist in the 6th New York International Ballet Competition 2000.

Oleg Gorbulev a former Principal Ballet Dancer with the Moscow Classical Ballet. Mr. Gorbulev is currently a member of the renowned Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington and will perform with partner, Mara Sachi Vinson in the Gala Performance. Mara Sachi Vinson a Palos Verdes Ballet alumna is currently a member of Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington where she originally portrayed the role of Marie/Sugar Plum Fairy.

Marat Daukayev a legendary principal dancer for over 20 years with the Kirov Ballet in St.Petersburg. He danced  leading male roles in the complete repertory of classical ballets.  Mr. Daukayev was teacher and coach for the stars of the Kirov Ballet for the six years. At Palos Verdes Ballet, Mr. Daukaev served as guest coach and performer. He worked in unique collaboration with the adolescents " Marie and Sugar Plum Fairies.