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
Competiton 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 Viginia Magazine's
December 2007 issue. ("A Dream Long Pas Deux: Russian Ballet Dancers Find
Their Ideal Stage in America", p. 99)
Jazmine 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, Jazmine 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. Jazmine 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 will begin graduate work in History at GMU in Fall 2008.
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. Although Irish is her forte, Meaghan has also studied ballet for
years under Y. and J. Nikitenko and specializes in teaching PreBallet.  She is a
junior at Marymount University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in English.
Guest Teachers in the future may include
Igor Sapotko:
Belarus Choreographic Institute, Bolshoi - Grigorovich Ballet
Dmitry Tuboltsev:
Vaganova Ballet Academy, GITIS; Bolshoi - Grigorovich Ballet
Inna Stabrova:
Vaganova Ballet Academy; Eifman Ballet
Vycheslav  Mesropov:
Baku Choreographic Institute; Moscow Festival Ballet, 2003 Youth
America Grand Prix "Teacher of the year"
Sergei Domrachev:
Perm State Choreographic Institute; Moscow Classical Ballet
Marina Fliaguina:
Perm State Choreographic Institute; Kremlin Ballet
Alisher Saburov:
Bolshoi Ballet Academy; Kremlin Ballet
BalletNikitenko ©
WebMaster
About Us
Sarah Birgfeld
A "graduated" student of Yuri & Jazmine 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. Beginning in Fall 2008, Sarah will begin attending
Shenandoah University with intent on becoming a Physical Therapist for dancers.
Ahmad Maaty
A Theatre major and Dance minor at George Mason University,
Ahmad was captain of his dance team for several years in high school and studied
with various Broadway veterans during his early dance education. In addition to
jazz, modern, ballet, and hip hop, Ahmad is renowned throughout the area for his
expertise in bellydancing and frequently conducts workshops around the D.C.
metro region.