2021 Vaganova Summer Intensive and Teacher Training

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from Evgenia Obraztsova and our distinguished faculty members!

World-renowned ballerina and prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre, Evgenia Obraztsova, will be joining us for our 2021 Summer Intensive and Teacher Training!

Participants of our 2021 Summer Program will have the opportunity to experience phenomenal Russian Vaganova ballet training from former dancers of the Mariinsky Theatre, take master ballet classes from stars such as Evgenia Obraztsova herself, and will also have the exclusive opportunity to audition for the Belarusian State Choreographic College! In addition to the invaluable experience of studying at this national school, graduates receive a prestigious diploma of ballet artist, teacher, and ballet arts administration.

Quick Facts:

Dates: July 19 – 31, 2021

Location: Minsk, Belarus

*Online options through Zoom are offered

Curriculum: Ballet technique| Pointe| Repertoire| Variations| Conditioning| Question and Answer Sessions|

Tuition: Accepted students and teachers for the program can choose from the following tuition options:

  • IN-PERSON FULL 2-week program: $1500
  • IN-PERSON SINGLE WEEK rate: $800
  • ONLINE FULL 2-week program: $750
  • ONLINE SINGLE WEEK rate: $400

A special rate of EUR 500 for the full 2-week, in-person program is offered to students residing in Europe, Belarus, or Russia.

Для студентов стран СНГ стоимость обучения EUR 500.

We ask accepted students to please secure your enrollment by submitting tuition in full by July 11, 2021. To submit payments, please navigate to our payment site here.

Audition

We welcome dancers as young as 11 years old to professional dancers to train, grow, and learn with us. Interested students of our 2021 Vaganova Summer Intensive must submit the following materials to be considered:

  • a completed Audition Form
  • a 10-15 minute video with the following:
    • The applicant stating his/her name, age, and reason for pursuing ballet training;
    • Short combinations at the barre, on one side only, of the following: Plié, battement tendu, rond de jambe par terre, grand battements;
    • Center work: Adagio, petite and grand allegro, turns.

Please send all materials and questions to ekaterinaowf@gmail.com and specify whether you will be attending in-person or online. Applicants can expect to hear the results of their audition within two weeks.

Teacher Training will also be available online and in-person. If you are a ballet teacher wishing to be considered for the Teacher Training program, please send in a Registration Form (print form, complete, and scan or photograph) and resume to ekaterinaowf@gmail.com along.

Faculty

EVGENIA OBRAZTSOVA

Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater and Honored Artist of Russia

World-renowned ballerina and Honored Artist of Russia Evgenia Obraztsova graduated from the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in 2002 and joined the Mariinsky Ballet, where she quickly rose through the ranks as an emerging star. She frequently guests in principal roles with companies like the Royal Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Among her numerous awards, she is the recipient of the gold medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition (2005) and the Golden Mask Award (2007), Russia’s most prestigious theatre prize. In 2012, Obraztsova joined the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow where she is still dancing as Prima Ballerina.

EKATERINA SHCHELKANOVA

OWDF Founder, former soloist of Mariinsky Theatre and American Ballet Theatre, graduate of Vaganova Ballet Academy

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ekaterina Shchelkanova (Chtchelkanova) received her dance training at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Upon graduation, she joined the Kirov Ballet (now the Mariinsky Theatre) as a soloist, where she danced a variety of leading roles in major classical ballets. Ms. Shchelkanova joined American Ballet Theatre in 1995, and as a soloist with the Company, she excelled in a variety of soloist and principal roles.

Ms. Shchelkanova’s versatility, strong classical training and technical skill in classical and contemporary dance allowed her to work closely with legendary Twyla Tharp, Sallie Wilson, John Neumeier, Frederik Franklin, and Mark Morris. Her amazing training and pure classical line were noticed by such masters as Gelsey Kirkland, Natalia Makarova, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

In January 2006, Ekaterina accepted a position of Artistic Director at the Berlin International Dance Festival. As a guest, Ekaterina taught classes at the National Ballet of Canada and ABT’s JKO School. She joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as ballet mistress and since September 2007, held the same position at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal until she founded Open World Dance Foundation.

ANTON BOYTSOV

OWDF Founder, former dancer of Mariinsky Theatre, graduate of Vaganova Ballet Academy

At the age of 10, Mr. Boytsov was accepted to Vaganova Academy of St. Petersburg, Russia. After graduating from Vaganova Academy, Mr. Boytsov was invited to join Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Theatre), where his great partnering skills allowed stage partnerships with such stars like Uliana Lopatkina, Svetlana Zakharova, Yulia Makhalina, Altinai Asilmuratova, Olga Chenchikova, and many others.

OWDF Founder Anton Boytsov partnering with Ulyana Lopatkina.

In 2011, Mr. Boytsov organized and helped to host JKO School of American Ballet Theatre first teacher’s training course in St. Petersburg, Russia.
This international event opened doors to teachers and ballet students of America and Russia to fruitful collaborations through projects connecting the ballet communities of America, Russia, and other countries. In 2013-14, Mr. Boytsov worked with Ballet Theatre Houston and Robert Underwood’s Studio of Dance. Currently, Mr. Boytsov enjoys sharing his professional skills and love for dance through Open World Dance Foundation as a founder and Vice-President.

For a more detailed biography on our founders, please click here.