National Ballet Competition Jury
2025 Jury Members
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Luba Gulyaeva graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia). Her instructors include the famous N.V. Baltacheyeva, assistant to A.Y. Vaganova. Ms. Gulyaeva joined the Kirov (Maryinsky) Ballet Company from 1968 to1979 in Leningrad where she performed in ballets such as La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, La Sylphide, Le Corsair, Nutcracker, Legend of Love, Cinderella and others. In 1980,
Ms. Gulyaeva was invited by Jurgen Schneider to be a faculty member of the Botsford School of Dance in Rochester, New York where she taught intermediate and advanced classical ballet, pointe technique, and variation repertory. She also coached students for competitions and professional company auditions. From 1988 to 1989, Ms. Gulyaeva was invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to be a member of the faculty of the American Ballet Theatre School of Classical Ballet where she gave classes to the American Ballet Theatre dancers.
From 1989 to 1993, Ms. Gulyaeva was ballet coach at the Steps Ballet Studio in New York City. She also taught master classes at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne and classes at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Ms. Gulayaeva has privately coached participants of the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS and the Prix de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is well known as one of the finest teachers of the Vaganova ballet system and classical repertory.
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Mr. Pakri is originally from Estonia and is a graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. Following his graduation, Mr. Pakri danced with Estonian National Ballet as a principal dancer and taught partnering and technique classes at the Tallinn State Ballet School. During that time, he also performed as a principal guest artist at the International Ballet Festival in Havana, Cuba; and for the National Theater of Macedonia in Skopje, Yugoslavia. In 1991, at the invitation of then-artistic-director Martin Fredmann, Mr. Pakri joined Colorado Ballet as principal dancer. Over the next ten years, he performed numerous classical and contemporary roles, including Albrecht in Giselle, the title role in George Balanchine’s Apollo, Basilio in Don Quixote, the principal male in Balanchine’s Rubies, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. Mr. Pakri was also a frequent guest performer in Estonia and Japan. In 1998, he performed as a guest artist with the Martha Graham Dance Company in the role of the Husbandman in Appalachian Spring at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Pakri retired from dancing in 2001 and, for the next five years, served as ballet master of Colorado Ballet. In 2005, he received critical acclaim for staging The Sleeping Beauty for the Company. In 2006, Mr. Pakri joined the faculty of The Royal Ballet Upper School in London, England, where he remained until August 2013. During his tenure, Mr. Pakri’s students won prizes at the Youth America Grand Prix and Young British Dancer of the Year competitions. He also served as a guest teacher at Estonian National Ballet and at a number of schools. Prior to joining HARID’s faculty, Mr. Pakri was ballet master at Houston Ballet. He has served as a guest teacher not only at Estonian National Ballet, but also at The Royal Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. He remains active as a guest teacher and a ballet-competition judge.
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Ellen Rosa-Taylor, originally from Wilmington, DE, is currently the Chair of the Dance Department at Idyllwild Arts Academy. She received her Bachelor of Science in Ballet from Indiana University, Bloomington. Ms. Rosa-Taylor received her MFA in Dance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of a Deans Teaching Fellowship for the School of Visual Arts and Dance as well as a University Fellowship. Ellen has performed as a dancer with the Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, City Ballet of Los Angeles, Media City Ballet, Louise Reichlin and Dancers and Chattanooga Ballet. Ms. Rosa-Taylor was also featured as the Bluebird in Disney’s Snow White, an Enchanting Musical at Disneyland. As a choreographer Mrs. Rosa-Taylor has been a guest choreographer throughout the US. As a dance educator, Ms. Rosa-Taylor is currently an ABT Certified Teacher for levels Primary- 7 and has received the distinction of ABT NTC Fellow.
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Agustin de Sousa began his training in Peru at Danzaira Escuela de Ballet where he trained with renowned teacher Suzanne Neumann. In 2019 he moved to North Carolina where he graduated from the Cary Ballet Conservatory. He is a two time Youth America Grand Prix finalist and had recieved multiple awards and scholarships from American Dance Competition, Passo de Arte, Danzamerica and many others. At age 19 Agustin received his first contract with the Sarasota Ballet where he performed roles in George Balanchine’s Diamonds, Stars and Stripes, and Theme and Variations, as well as Frederick Ashton’s Enigma Variations and many other roles. After leaving Sarasota Ballet, he joined Cleveland Ballet.
In 2020 Mr. Agustin returned to the Cary Ballet Conservatory as a teacher where he has since been promoted to a full time teaching position. During his tenure as a Cary Ballet Faculty member, he has had the opportunity to train and coach many dancers, including medalists for major competitions, such as USA IBC, the Prix de Lausanne, Youth America Grand Prix, and American Dance Competition.
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Svetlana Svinko is originally from Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In 2009 she graduated from the Krasnoyarsk State Choreographic College, class of the teacher Mikhieva Svetlana. During her studies she took part in international and all-Russian contests, in 2009 she was awarded a scholarship of People's Artist of Russia N.L. Semizorova.
In 2009 she joined the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater under the direction of Igor Zelensky, People's Artist of the Russian Federation. Passed the creative way from the corps de ballet to the principal ballerina. Has taken part in all the theater's productions and premieres. Has worked with teachers Ya. Serebryakova, V. Ryazhenova and Olga Kostritskaya.
From 2016 - 2023 she worked as a principal ballerina at the Leonid Yakobson St. Petersburg Ballet Theater. She danced principal roles in the ballets “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Don Quixote” on the best stages of Russia at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.
Since 2018 she started her teaching career, working as a teacher at the Leonid Yakobson Ballet Theater.
In 2021 she graduated from the Academy of Russian Ballet named after A. Vaganova - Bachelor of Education in Ballet Pedagogy.
Since 2023 she has been working at Clevelandballet. She has performed principal roles in the ballets The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty.
Awards:
Winner of the Galina Ulanova All-Russian Competition in 2008 (silver medal)
Winner of the International Ballet Competition in Moscow in 2009 (bronze medal).
Winner of the 12th Russian Youth Delphic Games in 2013 (silver medal)
Laureate of the 13th Youth Delphic Games of Russia in 2014 (bronze medal)
Diploma winner of the International Ballet Competition in Varna in 2014.
Laureate of the prize to support talented youth, established by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, in 2013 and in 2014.
Repertoire:
Swan Lake: Odette - Odile, Pas de trois.
The Corsair (Chor. Petipa, Gusev, Khomyakov): Medora, trio of odalisques.
La Bayadera: Nikiya, Gamzatti, shadow trio.
Paquita: solo and variations.
Chopiniana: solo.
Giselle: Giselle, Myrtle.
Coppelia: friends of Swanilde, variations.
Don Quixote: Kitri, Street Dancer, friend of Kitri, The Queen of the Dryads.
Sleeping Beauty: Aurora, Lilac Fairy, Diamond.
The Nutcracker: Masha, Sugar Plum.
Cinderella (Chor. K. Simonov): Stepmother.
Pulcinella (Chor. K. Simonov): the two girls.
Cippolino (Chor. Mayorova): Countess Cherry.
Whisper in the Dark (Chor. E. Liang).
Apollo Musaget (Chor. Balanchine): Polyhymnia.
Who cares? (Chor. Balanchine): five soloists.
Sacred Spring (Chor. Patrick De Ban): Tribe of the Sun.
"Pas de quatre" Chor. L. Jacobson
"Firebird" Douglas Lee: Princess
"Queen of Spades" Iñaki Urlezaga: Countess
"Don Quixote" Johan Kobborg: Mercedes
"Swan" Chor. L. Jacobson
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Rex Tilton is the Artistic Director of artÉmotion. He is a former Principal dancer with Ballet West and danced with the company from 2008-2022. He was a featured cast member on seasons 1 & 2 of the CW Docu-series Breaking Pointe. He has been featured in issues of Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, and Pointe Magazine.. He shared the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine, February 2018, with Allison DeBona. He was also the model for the August 2015 Grishko Pointe shoe ad featured in Pointe Magazine. Additional accolades include producing the ‘I Am Your Friend’ Benefit Dance Performance alongside Allison DeBona, June 2015, to benefit the non-profit organization Fahodie for Friends. He attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division program on scholarship, one year, before getting his job at Ballet West. Additional training includes School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He grew up under the artistic direction of former Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal, Ben Houk, and Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist, Lauri-Michelle Houk, at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy. In 2020, he was named a Nikolay Brand Ambassador.
Rex Tilton is currently an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Utah's School of Dance.
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Stéphano Candreva is a multifaceted artist whose journey in the world of dance has been defined by passion, dedication and artistic innovation. Born and raised in Brazil, Stéphano received his foundational training at the esteemed Studio de Dança Com-Passos and later graduated from the Escola de Dança Alice Arja in Rio de Janeiro. His early talent and potential were evident from the outset, leading to scholarships at renowned international summer programs, including Miami City Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet.
Throughout his career, Stéphano has graced the stages of prestigious ballet companies world wide, leaving an indelible mark with his captivating performances. From his tenure with Smuin Contemporary Ballet to his roles with Atlanta Ballet and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Stéphano's artistry has consistently enthralled audiences. He has portrayed a diverse range of roles, from principal to soloist, showcasing his versatility and depth as a dancer.
In addition to his accomplishments on stage, Stéphano's choreographic vision and leadership have garnered acclaim. As an International Guest Artist, he has collaborated with esteemed companies and choreographers, enriching the dance landscape with his creative insights. His repertoire as a choreographer encompasses a breadth of styles and themes, reflecting his dynamic approach to storytelling through movement.
Stéphano's journey as an artist has been punctuated by notable achievements, including his representation of Brazil at the Seminario Internacional de Danca de Brasilia, where he earned a silver medal. Furthermore, his semifinalist placement at the2006 Prix de Lausanne Argentinian qualifications underscores his exceptional talent and potential.
In his current role as Artistic Director and Choreographer, Stéphano brings a wealth of experience and artistic vision to his creative endeavors. With a commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and nurturing emerging talent, he continues to shape the future of dance, inspiring audiences and artists alike with his passion and creativity. Through his dedication to excellence and innovation, Stéphano Candreva remains a driving force in the world of dance, forging a legacy that resonates far beyond the stage.