Valeria Ivlieva

Most recently Valeria was an instructor at The Kirov Academy of Washington DC, during which time the school won best school two years in a row at the New York City YAGP. Several of her students won individual awards at the New York City and Philadelphia YAGP over the past two years. Kirov’s group piece won first place at the New York City YAGP and she was directly involved with the rehearsals and choreography. Several of her students placed and won a special award at the Washington Grand Prix in 2021. The Washington Grand Prix was not a Kirov-sponsored competition, several of her Kirov students competed independently under her direct supervision.

Previously Valeria was a principal ballerina and the Deputy Artistic Director of Baltimore Ballet. She was also previously a principal dancer with Russian Grand Ballet, Kiev College of Performing Arts, Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet, Cairo Opera Ballet Company, Étoiles Russes de la Danse in Switzerland, Kiev Youth Ballet, and Regalul Baletului Rus in Romainia.

Valeria has performed principal ballerina roles internationally, touring more than 20 countries in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Snow White, Carmen, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Carmina Burana, Romeo and Juliet, Odysseus, Zorba the Greek, Spartacus, Pinocchio, Cipollino, the Wizard Harry and the Snow Queen, the opera Aida, Pictures at an Exhibition, and The Firebird as well as many modern and contemporary works.

In July 2017 Valeria choreographed alongside Tony Award winner George Faison, who served as Michael Jackson’s choreographer. The performance took place at Madison Square Garden in front of an audience of more than 20,000. In November 2018 she worked again with Faison to choreograph a performance at the “Peace Starts with Me” Unity Conference at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. Valeria was also featured as the principal ballerina in that performance, joined by her students from Baltimore Ballet.

Valeria won first place in the 2005 Grand Pas Competition from Donetsk, the gold medal and a special award in 2006 Galician Terpsichore International Ballet Competition, and the silver medal and a special award in 2007 Crystal Shoe Kharkov International Ballet Competition. She has diplomas from Kharkov Ballet Theatre, a B.F.A. from the Kiev College of Performing Arts, and a B.A. from the State University of Performing Arts Administration, all with honors. Valeria’s name is included in the Honorable Book of Fame in Kharkov. She has taught master classes in the United States, Europe, and Africa, and was a Ballet Mistress/Choreographer, Director/Assistant Director of productions with Mystic Ballet Company and Academy of Mystic, Connecticut. In 2015 she also won the award for best choreographer in contemporary choreography. Her students have placed at the Youth America Grand Prix Competition multiple times.

Degrees:

• BFA, Kiev College of Performing Arts
• BA, State University of Performing Arts Administration