Yuri Nikitenko (Artistic Director)
Born in Ust-Kamenogorsk, U.S.S.R (now Kazakhstan), he graduated from the A. V. Seleznev Choreographic Institute,
Alma-Ata, with honors in 1985. After graduation, he performed as a principal dancer with the Alma-Ata Theatre of Opera
and Ballet, the Dnepropetrovsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the Chelyabinsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet, and the
Yekaterinburg “Pirouette” Ballet Theatre. He was also a founding member of Ballet Plus, the renowned ballet company of
Yekaterinburg, Russia, where he expanded his classical repertoire to include works by contemporary choreographers like
Roland Petit, Jerry Bevington, and Alla Sigalova. In 1992, Yuri was a finalist at the Arabesque International Ballet
Competition held in Perm, Russia. He was also nominated for one of Russia’s highest awards for performing artists,
Honored Artist of Russia. Yuri also taught ballet at the Sverdlovsk University of Dramatic Arts prior to coming to the U.S.
After coming to the United States in 2000, he solidified his position as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He has
performed principal roles in much of the classical repertoire, staged ballets for professional companies and students alike,
and prepared students for major ballet competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix. (Placed Top-12 regionally in
2003, 2004, 2008) In demand for his expertise as a teacher, he has guest taught at professional ballet schools throughout
Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. As a choreographer, he has created ballets such as Strauss Spectacular, Peter and the Wolf,
and Counterpointe in addition to smaller works. He has also staged classical works like La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Giselle,
Swan Lake, Coppelia, Paquita, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Yuri was most recently featured in Northern
Virginia Magazine's December 2007 issue. ("A Dream Long Pas Deux: Russian Ballet Dancers Find Their Ideal Stage in
America", p. 99)
Jasmine Nikitenko (Artistic Director)
A Manassas native, she received her early ballet training from Ricardo Moreira and Vycheslav Mesropov. She was
accepted to the summer intensives of the Joffery Ballet School, Richmond Ballet School, and the Washington Ballet School
in 1994 and chose to attend the latter. In 1996, she was offered a coveted place at the Virginia Governor’s School of Visual
and Performing Arts. As a professional dancer around the D.C. Metropolitan area, she studied with ballet masters D.
Tuboltsev, I. Stabrova, I. Sapotko, A. Saburov, and her husband, Y. Nikitenko while performing classical and character
soloist roles in ballets like Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, and The Nutcracker, among others. An
innovative choreographer, her contemporary works have won awards at local dance competitions and were most recently
presented at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Youth America Grand Prix. (Top 12 in 2008) She has also staged excerpts from
classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Coppelia, and The Sleeping Beauty. First recognized by her mentor, V. Mesropov, as a
talented pedagogue and ballet mistress, Jasmine has taught at professional schools throughout Virginia and Maryland and
is also on the faculty of Loudoun County Public School's Summer in the Arts Program. Jasmine received her BA in History
from George Mason University in 2006 where her thesis on Agrippina Vaganova's impact on the revolution of Russian
ballet (Krasnaya Terpsikhora) was submitted by Professor Rex Wade to the Southern Conference of Slavic Studies for its
Undergraduate Award. She has been accepted to GMU's Masters' Program and will pursue an MA in History
Sarah Gosselin
A "graduated" student of Yuri & Jasmine Nikitenko, Sarah is a graduate of James Madison University with a BA in Dance
and a concentration in Physical Therapy. At JMU, she was a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company and the
Contemporary Dance Ensemble. As a member, she worked with many guest artists including Washington, D.C. and New
York choreographers Meisha Bosma and Monica Bill Barnes. Sarah also has attended The Pulse Intensive where she
worked with "So You Think You Can Dance?" choreographers Mia Michaels and Wade Robson. Her choreographic works
have been showcased in the JMU Dance Department's public concerts and in the Contemporary Dance Ensemble's
mainstage productions. Sarah is a Physical Therapy doctoral student at Shenandoah University and performs with Pro
Ekho Dance.
Jillian Boelte
Bio coming soon!
Emily Grimm
A student of Yuri Nikitenko from the age of 12 through her high school graduation, Emily returns to ARB as a member of
the faculty. Her performing repertoire includes roles in "Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker", "Don Quixote", "La
Bayadere", "Dracula", as well as contemporary choreography. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree at
NVCC. In addition to specializing in the instruction of young ballet students, Emily is also an accomplished pianist.
Ashley Guess
Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Ashley studied at Music-In-Motion Dance Academy under Darlene Stephens. After
moving to Northern Virginia in the fall of 1999, Ashley began studying, performing, and apprentice teaching at ARB. She
has performed soloist roles in "The Nutcracker", excerpts from "Sleeping Beauty", "Don Quixote", and "Chopiniana".
Ashley also competed at the 2010 Youth America Grand Prix in Philadelphia. She will begin her undergraduate degree in
Forensic Pathology in the fall of 2010.
Ahmad Maaty
A 2009 graduate of George Mason University (B.A. Theatre, minor in Dance), Ahmad is currently pursuing his M.A. in
Theatre at Pace University in NYC as well as furthering his dance education with study at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center.
A treasured instructor at ARB, Ahmad will return for the 2010 Summer Intensive with his energetic Hip Hop, African, and
Bellydancing classes.
Megan McIntyre
A member of ARB's class of 2009, Megan has trained with Y. and J. Nikitenko since 2002. She was a semi-finalist at Youth
America Grand Prix in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and was invited to attend the YAGP NYC intensive workshop in 2008 and
2009. Her performing repertoire includes soloist roles in The Nutcracker, Paquita, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Grand Pas
Classique as well as contemporary choreography. She has apprentice taught ballet, tap, and jazz at ARB since 2006. She
will continue her secondary studies at Shenendoah University where she has the distinction of having been accepted into
the Physical Therapy Doctorate Program prior to her high school graduation.
Meaghan Sheehan
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Meaghan received her Irish dance training at the O’Neill-James School of Irish
Dance, beginning at age four. A many time first and second place finisher at local and regional Irish competitions
(feisanna), she competed and placed 10th at the 2002 Irish Dance World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. She is
currently preparing for her ADCCRG certification which will allow her students to compete in Irish dance competitions,
ranging from local to international. Meaghan has also studied ballet for years under Y. and J. Nikitenko and specializes in
teaching young childrens' classes. She is a junior at Marymount University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in
English
Staff
Yuri Nikitenko, Artistic Director
Jasmine Nikitenko, Artistic Director
Jennifer Skaggs, Assistant to the Directors
Kim Guess, Public Relations
Kelly Muzzin, Reception Assistant
Jean Walker-White, Costume Mistress
Milton Shomo, Technical Director
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