Faculty & Staff

Alisher Khasanov is an award-winning Choreographer and Director of the 11th International Choreography Competition and the First Russian Folk Dance Competition, in Moscow, Russia. He is the artistic director and inspiration behind the theatre movement 'Mime- Orchestra". Mr. Khasanov has degrees both from the School of Choreography, in Almaty, Kazakhstan and the prestigious Russian Academy of Theater Arts (GITIS), in Moscow Russia.

After working as a dancer both in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Mr. Khasanov turned to directing. As a choreographer, he participated in various international projects, including the Center of Dramatic Arts in Shanghai, International Chekhov Festival and the 'Gesher' Theater Israel. He has choreographed productions for theatres, such as the Bolshoi Theater in Russia, Opera and Ballet Theater Chelyabinsk and many others. He was the choreographer for the Russian National figure skating team and the Artistic Director of Tzvetnoy Boulevard Circus, touring both England and Japan. From 2002 to 2009 Alisher Khasanov was the head choreographer and the artistic director of Moscow Children's Music and Drama Theater.

Matisse Love is a 23 year old professional Ballerina, Actress and Teacher.

Matisse began her ballet career at age 7 under the direction of the Kirov Ballet Soloist Marat Daukayev in Los Angeles. At 12 she was cast as “Matisse” as a series regular on ABC Family’s TV show Bunheads created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

At 14 she co-starred in the Academy Award nominated Documentary Getting to the Nutcracker, created by Serene Meshel-Dillman. At 16 Matisse was cast as the Cinderella ballet model for Mariinsky’s Production of Cinderella at the Dorothy Chandler Music Pavilion appearing in several Billboards throughout Los Angeles. She is a ballet model for The Pointe Shop stores in CA.

At 16 Matisse won a ballet scholarship to train at Juilliard in New York with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. There, she won 1st Place in the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s summer competition and was then offered to study at the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. She studied and trained in the highest Russian class, graduated in 1.5 years and achieved the highest grades. She speaks fluent Russian.

Matisse went on to compete in national and international ballet competitions, winning 1st and 2nd place awards. She was named “Laureate” after winning 2nd place at the Azerbaijan International Competition in Baku and was the only American to compete.

Mrs. Lilit Kurinyan is a professional Vaganova trained ballet artist and instructor. Beginning her dancing carrier at age 5, Lilit elevated her training to become a world-renowned professional dancer. Performing at top ballet companies throughout Armedia, Russia and Europe including dancing as a soloist in most famous ballets, such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Cinderella.

A passionate performer and dedicated teacher, she was fortunate to be educated and mentored by some of the best ballet instructors from around the world, including many amazing teachers who were graduates of world-famous schools such as Vaganova and Bolshoi.

“I use Vaganova method of teaching. I pay close attention to the proper placement of the hips, feet, and head, stretched out knees, legs, and long lines. I also find musically and proper dynamics crucial for executing each step correctly. I adjust my classes accordingly to the student's needs and goals. I’m capable of making my classes very academic and physically challenging as well as easy and fun.”

Gary Sevani was the Chief Executive Officer, Choreographer, Producer and Artistic Director of Synthesis Performing Arts, an organization he founded in 1996. His instruction for the past 26 years at Synthesis has included dance education for children (K- 12) and adult professional dance training. Gary developed and oversaw the academic program for children, which courses in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, Character, Musical Theater, Pointe, Partner Dance, Dance History and more. His adult professional studio-training program includes instruction in Russian, American and other Style of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary and Traditional- folk dances.

In 1978, Gary Sevani graduated from the College of Classical Dance in Russia. He received a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from State Institute of Performing Arts in Moscow, Russia in (1985) During his graduate career, Gary studied under and collaborated with internationally known dancers and choreographers such as Nadejda Pavlova, Igor and Margarita Smirnova, Vladimir Gordiev and Boris Baranovsky, choreographer and artistic director of the Musical Theater of Moscow. While in Russia, Gary also performed in collaboration with the Moscow Jazz-Modern Dance Company.

Mrs. Yelena Zerkovska is Ukrainian-American professional Vaganova trained ballet artist and instructor. Beginning her dancing carrier at age 5, Yelena elevated her training to become a world-renowned professional dancer. Performing at top ballet companies throughout the Unites States and Europe including dancing as a soloist in most famous ballets, such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Cinderella.

A passionate performer and dedicated teacher, she was fortunate to be educated and mentored by some of the best ballet instructors from around the world, including many amazing teachers who were graduates of world-famous schools such as Vaganova, Bolshoi, Perm, Cuban and Joffrey. Yelena Zerkovska holds a BFA from a prestigious school, North Carolina School of the Art and is a primary ballet teacher at The Grand Academy of Ballet.

“I use Vaganova method of teaching. I pay close attention to the proper placement of the hips, feet, and head, stretched out knees, legs, and long lines. I also find musically and proper dynamics crucial for executing each step correctly. I adjust my classes accordingly to the student's needs and goals. I’m capable of making my classes very academic and physically challenging as well as easy and fun.”

Yelena Zerkovska

Askar Kettebekov received his dance training from the National Ballet School of Kazakhstan and graduated from the National University of Kazakhstan with a degree in ballet pedagogy and choreography. After graduation, he was asked to join the National Ballet Theatre of Kazakhstan and performed with the company for eight years as a soloist, after which he joined Moscow Festival Ballet. Upon coming to the United States, Kettebekov served as a principal guest dancer with the Ballet Theatre of Boston and the Tulsa Ballet. For three years, he was a principal dancer with the San Diego Ballet before accepting a position as artistic director with the Media Dance Center in Los Angeles.

As a dancer he has toured through Asia, Europe and North America, including China, Japan, Germany, France, England and Italy. His professional repertoire includes The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Fountain of Bakhchisaray, Legends of Love, Giselle, Don Quixote and the role of Rothbart in Swan Lake.

Pola is wellness and movement coach with over 15 years of experience in dance, Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga, Mat, Cadillac, and Post-Injury Pilates. Ms. Rubis is well-versed in the areas of anatomy, athletic injury prevention, and recovery and body conditioning.

Pola is ex soloist of ballet Todes and Street Jazz (Moscow), Colorado Ballet Academy, ex-student of Bruno Vandelli Academy in Cannes, lead dancer in various internarial films and music videos. She has more than 5 years of experience in body and face healing and anti-aging therapies.
She is CEO of the Rubis Dancing Yoga and unique style of Neosutras.

Pola trained and danced in all kinds of styles: jazz, modern, contemporary, tribal dance and hip-hop.

- Wellness and movement coach with over 15 years of experience.
- Choreographer that trained and danced in styles: jazz, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, body isolation.