Dr. Marina LEONOVA, Head of the Program and Master Teacher of Classical Dance, is herself a 1969 graduate of Mme. Sofia Golovkina at the the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She was invited to join the famous Bolshoi Ballet company right after graduation, and was soon promoted to one of company’s prima ballerinas. During her dancing career she has been seen in the leading parts at the Bolshoi and worldwide, including Odette/Odile in The Swan Lake, Giselle and Mirtha in Giselle, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Aegina in Spartacus among others. As a performer Ms. Leonova has collaborated with Elizaveta Gerdt, Raissa Struchkova, Yuri Grigorovich and other leading choreographers and ballet coaches. She began her teaching career at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy while still dancing at the Bolshoi. In 1991 she received her MFA cum laude from the School of Choreography at the State Institute of Performing Arts (GITIS) where she studied under legendary prima, Ms. Marina Semenova. Professor of classical dance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 1998, Ms. Leonova has represented Russia at some of the most prestigious international ballet competitions and has taught courses and master classes worldwide. President of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since 2002, she is the recipient of numerous prestigious national and international awards, including the highest honorary title of People's Artist of Russia in 2003.
Dr. Irina SYROVA, Acting Professor, Deputy Chair of the Classical Female Dance Department of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. In 1971-1975 Ms. Syrova was a soloist of the Perm Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre. Since 1979 she teaches classical dance in the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and has given master classes and participated in Academy's tours in in Belarus, Germany, Greece, Japan, Namibia, Norway, South Africa and the United States.
