Faculty Members

All faculty members are experienced professionals and under the artistic direction of Boris Cheplev and Janna Kirova. International guest teachers and choreographers from RUSSIA, GERMANY and USA assist with Workshops and Master Classes.

Janna Kirova

Artistic Director of Space Coast Ballet Company and Academy

Boris Chepelev

Artistic Director / President of Space Coast Ballet Company and Academy

Elizabeth Crooks

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she studied ballet under Russian teacher Jutec Kasamon with the Westmoreland Ballet Theater and jazz with Mario Melodia. She danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater II under the direction of Robert Davis and Muryo Jazz Company of Pittsburgh, directed by Buddy Thompson. She owned and operated her own school, “ Dance Unlimited” from 1983-1986. Elizabeth also had extensive experience in working with top class gymnasts in the Pittsburgh area as dance coach for floor exercise and balance beam. After moving to Virginia Beach, she taught for the Academy of Tidewater Ballet in Norfolk, Virginia as well as the Academy of Dance and Gymnastics. She headed up a competition team that won numerous awards in ballet, lyrical, and jazz including Best Choreography awards. She was certified by Test to Teach with Florida Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America in both ballet and jazz. Elizabeth has over 20 years teaching experience in the dance field.

Elena Shokhina

Elena hails from St. Petersburg, Russia, and studied at the famed Vaganova Academy . Prior to joining Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2000, Elena was a Principal Dancer with the St. Petersburg Ballet. Elena’s repertoire includes Romeo & Juliet, Paquita, Don Quixote, A Streetcar Named Desire, Swan Lake , Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan among others. Her favorite roles are leads in Giselle and La Bayadere , as well as Bruce Steivel’s Dracula, for which the role of “Lucy” was created for her. During her time with Nevada Ballet Theatre, Elena has danced principal roles in works by Peter Anastos, George Balanchine, Bruce Steivel, Kathryn Posin, Mark Diamond, Bruce Marks, James Jeon, Roy Tobias, and Val Caniparoli among others. Elena participated in the IX International Ballet Festival of Miami (IBFM) in 2004. Elena is proud mother of daughter, Darya (13)

Stanislav Ivanov

Mr. Ivanov received his training at the famous Perm State Choreographic College in Russia in 1996. He began his professional career at the Chelyabinsk Academic Theatre Opera and Ballet before joining the Grigorovich Ballet of Russia in 1998. Tours with the Grigorovich Ballet of Russia have taken him to Lebanon, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Italy, Turkey and most recently the United States. Mr. Ivanov has been selected to perform numerous roles in Mr. Grigorovich’s ballets: Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus, Don Quixote,Giselle,Raymonda, Swan Lake, Golden Age Suite, Sleeping Beauty ,Nutcracker. A dancer who seems to “fly through the air”, Mr. Ivanov’s performances showcase his strong Russian technique. Mr.Ivanov has been principal guest artist with several companies including Space Coast Ballet. He was a principal dancer with Dance Alive National Ballet 2002-2008.

Debbie Casperson

Mrs. Casperson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater and continued her education with graduate work through FSU. She has had a successful career in entertainment both in front of the camera and behind it. As a performer she earned her SAG, AFTRA and Actors Equity cards and performed with stars such as Burt Reynolds and Martin Sheen. Behind the scenes she was the associate producer for a company that produced the lavish Broadway style shows seen on cruise ships and Debbie was the first talent coordinator for the original “Star Search” TV show which starred Ed McMahon.

Guest Faculty

Viktor Kabaniaev

was trained at the famed Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the years that followed, he worked as a principal and soloist dancer in various ballet companies in the former Soviet Union, Germany and United States including Leningrad State Ballet Theater under the directorship of Mr. Boris Eifman, (1987-1989), Russian Ballet, (1989-1990), Komische Oper Berlin, (1990-1992), Dortmund Ballet, (1992-1994), Hannover Ballet (1996-1998) and Diablo Ballet (1998-2003). In 2003-2005 he served as Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for Moving Arts Dance, Walnut Creek, California. Mr. Kabaniaev has performed principal roles in many classical, neoclassical and modern ballets and has toured extensively in France, Iraq, Poland, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Austria, Panama and Thailand. Mr. Kabaniaev works were presented in Republic of Belarus, France, Germany, Poland, Japan and United States. In 2004 he won the First Laureate for Choreography of his “White Light” at The 3rd International Serge Diaghilev Competition for Choreographers, Gdynia, Poland. In 2005 he received Grand Prize for choreography “Duet” at The 8th Annual Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California. In February 2008, for his choreography “Weather”, Mr. Kabaniaev received First Prize at 2nd New American Talent/Dance in Austin, Texas.

Tina Kay Bohnstedt

Ms. Bohnstedt began her dance training at the Heinz-Bosl Stiftung Ballet Academy in Munich, Germany in 1981, and received her diploma in 1989. During this time, she was awarded the Junior Gold Medal at the German Ballet Competition (1986), as well as Finalist Fourth Place in the Moscow International Ballet Competition (1989). From 1989 to 1998 Ms. Bohnstedt was a principal dancer of the Bavarian State Ballet, Munich, Germany. Her artistry was recognized with the Bavarian Cultural Award for outstanding Achievement in the Arts. She performed a wide range of classical and contemporary roles, including ( Juliet in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, Kitri in Ray Barra’s Don Quiote, Aurora in Peter Wright’s Sleeping Beauty, Mary in John Neumeier’s Nutcracker, and severel works by Balanchine,Van Manen,Kylian,Naharin and many others. Ms. Bohnstedt has toured internationaly to China, Italy, Korea, Philippines, Poland, Belarus, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. After guesting with the Lawrence Pech Dance Company in San Francisco, she joined the Diablo Ballet in September 1999 and has since then been featured in many works of Diablo Ballet and guest choreographers which have been created for her.In 2007 Ms. Bohnstedt choreographed her first piece for Diablo Ballet ( The Mirrow ) and in 2008 ( Hopers Ball ) including choreographing severel solos for YAGP and Orlando World Competition. In 2005 Ms. Bohnstedt become Director of the Diablo Ballet Apprentice Program.

Tedeusz Matacz

Director, John Cranko School of Stuttgart (Germany)

Anastasia Babayeva

graduate of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. She danced professionally with the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia, Chicago Ballet, IL, Richmond Ballet in VA, International Ballet Classique, PA. Ms. Babayeva received Outstanding Teacher Award from American Ballet Competition and YAGP