Ballet - Winter - Intensive

ELENA VOSTROTINA

Former Principal Dancer of Zurich Ballet

Elena Vostrotina was born in St. Petersburg. She received her formal ballet training at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy, where her talent and dedication were evident early on. In 2002, she earned the “Hope of Russia” Award at the Vaganova Prix Ballet Competition, signaling the beginning of a promising career in classical ballet.

From 2003 to 2006, Vostrotina was a member of the Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet) in St. Petersburg, where she performed various classical roles and continued developing under the guidance of renowned teachers, including Elena Evteeva.

In 2006, she joined the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany. Initially appointed as a second soloist, she quickly rose through the ranks—becoming a first soloist in 2007 and a principal dancer in 2011. During her tenure at Semperoper Ballett, she gained acclaim for her interpretations of both classical and contemporary repertoire. Critics particularly praised her performance in The World According to Us by David Dawson, for which she received the “Outstanding Performance by a Female Artist” honor from Dance Europe Magazine in 2009. That same year, she was awarded the “Paradise Award” for Best Dramatic Actress in La Bayadère (staged by Igor Zelensky) in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Her excellence was further recognized in 2014 when she received the Mary Wigman Award from the Stiftung zur Förderung der Semperoper.

In 2017, Vostrotina joined Ballett Zürich in Switzerland as a principal dancer. Her work with the company has included standout performances such as Odette/Odile in Alexei Ratmansky’s reconstruction of Swan Lake, Myrtha in Giselle (Patrice Bart), and leading roles in productions by Christian Spuck, including Winterreise, Romeo and Juliet, and Nocturne.

Throughout her career, she has danced major roles in the classical canon, including Princess Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Nikiya in La Bayadère, the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Myrtha in Giselle. She has also excelled in neoclassical and contemporary works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, David Dawson, Stijn Celis, and John Neumeier, Paul Lightfoot and Crystal Pite.

Prof. OLGA MELNIKOVA

Former principal dancer of Semperoper Ballet Dresden and Professor for classical dance at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden

was born in Leningrad, Russia, and received her professional education at the Vaganova Ballet Academy.

Her professional career began at the Mariinsky Theatre (Kirov Ballet), where she worked from 1989 to 2000.

In 2000, she joined the Semperoper Ballet Dresden, where she performed as a soloist and later as a principal dancer.

In 2008, Olga graduated from the Pedagogical Department of the Vaganova Academy and received a diploma as a teacher of classical dance.

Since 2011, she has been a professor for classical dance at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and the head of the apprentice program in cooperation with the Semperoper Dresden.

As an experienced pedagogue, Olga has for several years been a guest teacher at the Hungarian Dance Academy.

Prof. JULIANA SABINO WILHELM

Head of Dance Programmes at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she began studying dance in various schools in her

hometown including Spinelli and later the State Ballet School of Rio de Janeiro and private coachings with Yellê Bittencourt.

Later she moved to New York City and successfully graduated from The School of American Ballet. Upon graduating she danced professionally at the Semperoper Dresden Ballet where she performed a very diverse repertoire including various master pieces from George Balanchine, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, John Cranko as well as the classics such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and La Bayadère. Later as a freelancer she was part of projects and worked as a guest artist.

In 2016 she graduated with honors her Master of Arts in Dance Pedagogy at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden. Since 2015 she has been working at the Palucca University as a member of the Faculty for classical dance, giving lessons to all of the levels in ballet, repertoire, and methodics. In 2019 she became a professor for classical dance at the Palucca University.

Since 2021 she leads as Head of Dance Programmes and since fall of 2024 additionally also as vice-rector of study affairs.

AMANCIO GONZALEZ

Coach for William Forsythe ballets

born in Spain, studied dance with Ion Beitia in Las Arenas, Spain and in the Centre de danse International Rossella Hightower in Cannes.As a dancer, worked with Jeune Ballet International de Cannes, directed by Edward Cook. Scottish Ballet, under the direction of Galina Samsova. NAPAC dance Company, with Garry Trinder. De Rotterdamse Dansgroep, directed by Käthy Gosschalk. REFLEX Dance Company, with Patrizia Van Roesel. Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, under the direction of Ed Wubbe, with Frankfurt Ballett and The Forsythe Company, under the direction of William Forsythe and at present with Dance On ensemble in Berlin under the direction of Christopher Roman.

Diplomed Ballet Master and Repettiteur, works as guest ballet teacher in Ballett Frankfurt, The Forsythe Company, Ballet National de Marseille, Ballet Preljocaj, Basler Ballet, Cullberg Ballet, Gottebörg Danscompani, Skanes Dansteater, Danish Dance Theater, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Norrdans, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey...

LAURA GRAHAM 

Former Principal Ballet Mistress at the Semperoper Ballett Dresden

Finishing up 18 full time seasons as Senior and Principal Ballet Master with Dresden’s Semperoper Ballett, where she has helped build and support the present company since 2006, Laura is jumping out to share all she’s learned with dancers around the world. In the past 24 years, she has staged William Forsythe Ballets in many leading companies as well as being an International Guest ballet teacher and coach.     During a 26 year performing career she was a dancer in Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt performing leads in ‘In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Artifact, 2nd Detail, and most notably in the original cast of ‘The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude', and 'Neue Suite’s Handel 1 & 3.     Beforehand as a Principal ballerina with Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada, she performed the main roles in many classical ballets such as Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Giselle & Myrta, Nutcracker (Luisa, Neumeier), along with neo-classical favourites Rudy van Danzig’s 3rd Song of Four Last Songs and Juliet in his Romeo and Juliet, and Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de deux.

At the age of 25 she achieved a childhood dream by attending the Varna International Ballet competition and receiving the top award.

Laura has also enjoyed experiencing acting and singing on stage, some film work and cartoon dubbing. Being an avid questioner of how to find different approaches for new experiences and outcomes, she has certifications in Gyrotonic & Gyokinesis, is a Zena Rommett floor-barre instructor, holds a German Theater Teacher's certificate based on Kiev Vaganova school syllabus, and a Yin Yoga teacher.         To keep a bit of adrenaline going after her stage career and to continue the questioning of how gravity affects, she’s become a Rescue Scuba Diver and was training to become a Glider plane pilot.

She loves collaborating with dancers to find their unique direction for themselves. It’s always possible to find the how if we know the why.

ANNA MERKULOVA

Former Principal Dancer at Semperoper Ballett Dresden

Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, Anna Merkulova began her ballet training at the age of seven and graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in 1999. Her professional career took her to companies in Ukraine, Estonia, the United States, and Denmark, where she performed as a soloist before joining Semperoper Ballet Dresden in 2006.

At Semperoper Ballet Dresden, Anna progressed through all ranks of the company, from corps de ballet to Principal Dancer in 2016. Throughout her career she performed leading and soloist roles in works by choreographers such as William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, David Dawson, Mats Ek, George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Jacopo Godani, Stijn Celis, Johan Inger, Ohad Naharin, and Aaron Watkin, among others. Her repertoire spans classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works.

Following a knee injury in 2017, Anna trained extensively in the GYROTONIC® Expansion System to support her recovery, which led her to become a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® trainer. She now works as a freelance trainer with dancers and non-dancers, supporting functional movement, injury prevention, and embodied awareness, with a particular focus on translating somatic principles into the needs of performing artists.

In 2024, Anna completed her Master’s Degree in Dance Pedagogy at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden. She is also a certified Regression Therapist and a member of the EARTh International Association of Regression Therapists.

In 2018, Anna gave a TEDxDresden talk entitled “The Importance of Listening to Your Body,” reflecting her ongoing interest in embodied intelligence and the connection between physical, emotional, and artistic development.

OLEG KLYMYUK

Ballet Teacher & Director of ART of

was born in Lutsk, Ukraine.
He completed his training at the State Ballet Academy of Kiev (Ukraine).
From 2003, he joined the Semperoper Ballett Dresden where he became first soloist in 2012.
During his career, Oleg had had the opportunity to work with renowned international choreographers, setters and ballet masters such as William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, John Neumeier, Mats Ek, Alexei Ratmansky, David Dawson, Uwe Scholz and many others.
He has danced in a varied repertoire ranging from classical masterpieces to cutting edge contemporary pieces. In 2012, he obtained the bachelor's degree for ballet teacher discipline, and in 2013, he graduated with a master diploma for modern choreography and the qualification of choreographer of modern dance of the Ukrainian State University of Humanities.
In 2013, he helped to stage William Forsythe’s “In the Middle Somewhat Elevated” at the Paris Opera Ballet. In 2015, Oleg had assisted William Forsythe in staging his piece at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington.
In 2012, he founded and became the director of ART of.

HYO-JUNG KANG

Principal Dancer at the Semperoper Ballett Dresden

Hyo-Jung Kang received her first ballet training at Sunwha Art Middle School in Seoul before studying at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington D.C. (1998–2002). After winning a scholarship at the Prix de Lausanne in 2002, she continued her education at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart and joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 2003/04. Rising quickly through the ranks, she was appointed principal dancer in 2011 following her celebrated debut as Juliet in John Cranko’s »Romeo and Juliet«. Since the 2021/22 season she has been a principal dancer with the Vienna State Ballet.

Her repertoire includes John Cranko’s Tatjana, Olga, Juliet, Odette/Odile and Catherine, as well as Giselle, Sylphide, Princess Aurora in »The Sleeping Beauty«, Kitri in »Don Quijote«, and Manon Lescaut in John Neumeier’s »The Lady of the Camellias«. She has also appeared in works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, Hans van Manen and many others. Roles have been created especially for her by Martin Schläpfer, Christian Spuck, Kevin O’Day and several contemporary choreographers.

In Vienna, she has danced Tatjana in »Onegin«, Princess Aurora in Schläpfer’s »Sleeping Beauty«, the title role in Elena Tchernichova’s »Giselle«, Hermione in Christopher Wheeldon’s »Winter’s Tale«, and further leading roles in ballets by Nureyev, Balanchine, Robbins, Forsythe, van Manen, Spoerli and Schläpfer.

From August 2025, she has joined Semperoper as a principal dancer and danced Sugarplum fairy in Aaron Watkin's »Nutcracker«.

Hyo-Jung Kang has been nominated as »Dancer of the Year« in the critics’ surveys for the tanzmagazine yearbooks 2022 and 2023.

SVETLANA GILEVA

Principal Dancer at the Semperoper Ballett Dresden

Svetlana Gileva is a Russian-trained ballerina and a Principal (Erste Solistin) with Semperoper Ballett Dresden. She studied at the Perm Ballet School in Russia and joined the Dresden ensemble in 2008, progressing through the ranks to become a soloist in 2010 and Principal in 2013. Her stage experience also includes engagements with the Mikhailovsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, the Aalto Theater Essen, and the United Municipal Theatres of Krefeld–Mönchengladbach.

Her repertoire spans the great classical leading roles, such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Louise in The Nutcracker, Nikiya/Hamsatti in La Bayadère, and Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as major works of the 20th and 21st centuries by choreographers including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, David Dawson, Marco Goecke, John Neumeier, Johan Inger, Justin Peck, and Nacho Duato.