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
Mare' Talbot, Honorary Board Member                                                                                                                                               
Priit Kripson – born in Estonia, upon graduating from the prestigious Moscow Bolshoi Ballet Academy was accepted into the Estonian National Ballet as a soloist.  Mr. Kripson is currently a principal dancer with Europe’s Royal Ballet of Flanders under the direction of William Forsythe and as a Guest Artist has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Kripson has performed lead roles in much of the classical and contemporary repertoire including Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Les Sylphiedes, Le Corsaire, Four Temperaments, and Allegro Brilliante

GUEST ARTIST 2009. The Nutcracker Ballet
Joseph Phillips ddanced 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”. 
Joseph Phillips
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.

Sayat Asatryan & Sae Rom Lee
Ellen Bigelow  trained at Palos Verdes Ballet performing principle roles in Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Paquita, and The Firebird.  Invited 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. Currently with Oregon Ballet .


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. 
Ellen Bigelow

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.

 

Lara Tong began at age 9 with Palos Verdes Ballet. She received full scholarships with early acceptance to both summer and year round programs for Kirov-Washington D.C., Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, and School of American Ballet, in New York (where she attended in 2003, 04, 05). Performed leading roles with Palos Verdes Ballet in The Nutcracker, and Les Sylphides, and title roles in Firebird, and Cinderella.  In 2005 was a semi-finalist at the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards and finalist at Youth America Grand Prix in New York. Lara graduated S.A.B. in 2008 and is currently an apprentice with New York City Ballet
Adonis Daukaev
  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, Principal of Pacific Northwest Ballet, 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.

Mara Sachi Vinson obtained her early dance training from Uta Graf-Apostol at Palos Verdes Ballet. Received scholarship to Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington D.C. where she was selected for the role of Masha in the Kirov Ballet’s The Nutcracker and performed for the President of Mexico. Joined the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet School, becoming an apprentice in 1999, a member of the corps de ballet in 2000, and Soloist in 2004.  Leading roles in Agon, Apollo, Concerto Barocco, Serenade, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana and others.  Worked with choreographers Kent Stowell, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Ronald Hynd, Christopher Stowell and Glen Tetley, among others.  In 2008 Mara was promoted to Principal.
Mara Sachi Vinson
  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.
  Denis Gronostayskiy Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Moscow Russia, former Principal Dancer with the Moscow Renaissance ballet, and Richmond Ballet. Toured and taught master classes throughout Russia, Japan, Europe, and the United States. Studied under L. Zhdanov, M.Lavrovskiy, N.  Fadaeechev ,
S. Golovkina  ( Bolshoi Ballet) Kirk Peterson (ABT) M. Burn, etc.