
Egle Spokaite
Founder, Artistic Director
Prima Ballerina of The Lithuanian National Ballet Theatre of 21 years and the winner of 4 International Ballet Competitions around the world, Egle Spokaite also had a stellar career as actress, ballet educator, fashion model, and public speaker. Want to learn more about Ms. Egle’s career, life, and achievements?
In 2008, Egle graduated from Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy with the degree in choreography and pedagogy (ballet education) and started her teaching career by founding “Egle Spokaite Ballet School” In Lithuania (2009), that quickly grew to 700 students, before she moved to Boston, MA and subsequently to San Diego, CA. In 2016, Egle Spokaite founded the Ballet Institute of San Diego – the school dedicated to quality dance education, where music, aesthetics and subtleties of dance movements come into Harmony, and each student is nurtured to seek and achieve her/his potential. Egle’s students yet again travel the world winning numerous international ballet and contemporary dance awards
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Katia Anishchenko
Ballet Head teacher
Katia was born in Russia and graduated from Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet as Master Teacher. At the same she started her ballerina’s career at the Mikhailovsky Theatre – one of the most prominent ballet companies in Russia, based in Saint Petersburg. For several years Katia toured the world as a soloist of the company, and in 2021 settled in Florida to become a head teacher at a Ballet School, where she already fostered several finalists of YAGP and ADCIBC. in 2023 she joined the Ballet Institute of San Diego and relocated here. Her full CV
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Sokvannara Sar
Ballet teacher
Featured and favorite roles: Prodigal Son, Oberon, Frankenstein, Romeo & Juliet, Fancy Free, Blue Bird, Rubies, Flower Festival, Mopey, and many others. Sar is the subject of a dance documentary film “Dancing Across Borders”.
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Tinatin Mtchedlidze
Ballet and Pointe
Born in Tbilisi (Georgia). After graduating from Tbilisi Ballet Art School named after V. Chabukiani, Tinatin enrolled in the State University of Theater and Cinema of Sh. Rustaveli, Faculty of Choreography. In 2009 she completed an internship at the Z. Faliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater with Ms. Nino Ananiashvili in the field of classical ballet. After which, Tina was accepted into the State Ballet of Georgia troupe.
Tina is a member of GDSA-Georgian national Dance & Sport association. Member of GNC Georgian National Council of Dance and Sport dance. Pilates trainer at the fitness center “Prolife”
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Leandro Glory Damasco, Jr.
Guest Teacher. Contemporary
Leandro Glory Damasco, Jr. is a multi-hyphenate creator, a choreographer, dynamic dancer, educator, and filmmaker whose work translates movement into physical poetry. Rooted in Sacramento, CA, his career embodies a relentless pursuit of artistic frontiers, treating the body as a boundless vessel for exploration.
His early path was forged under Nicholas Leichter in NYC and refined through immersive training with the Bay Area’s most distinguished companies. This dedication culminated in joining the renowned DIAVOLO in 2012, where he rose to become the company’s first resident choreographer, crafting the internationally acclaimed L’espace Du Temps trilogy.
Leandro’s fearless artistry moves seamlessly between the grand stage (including America’s Got Talent), the cinematic frame, and the academic realm. He holds an MFA in Dance from UC Irvine, and was recently recognized as a Jacob’s Pillow Choreographer Fellow, a testament to his innovative voice in contemporary dance. He now shares his deep well of wisdom at as a freelance choreographer and educator, specializing in Contemporary Dance, Dance Cinematography, and his original movement philosophy, Ebb and Floorwork.
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Dasha Tertova
Guest Faculty & Choreographer
“DASHA” is one of the most exceptional dancers/choreographers in professional community today. She is the founder and CEO of DARTS non-profit organization. Dasha is a unique choreographer with a wide range of skills and performing abilities. She was born in Moscow and over the years worked with companies such as Moiseyev Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet(Moscow) and the Riverdance company( European tour).
After receiving her Masters from Russian Ballet Academy, Russian Theater Academy, Dasha has been working in US. Since then, her professional credits include Madonna, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Cirque Du Soleil (MJ), MTV Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Pharrell, Daft Punk, and many more. She continues to teach master classes across the US and internationally ( NYC, DC, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, Japan, Israel, and Spain).
Dasha is a professor at the American Music and Dramatic Academy College (AMDA LA).
She has received multiple Outstanding Choreography awards from YAGP Youth American Gran Prix- the pearl of Classical and Contemporary ballet Competitions.
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Nicole Perez
Contemporary. Choreography
Multidisciplinary, free-spirited choreographer, modern dancer, dance teacher with her own unique path that we hope will inspire the students to seek their own individualities. Nicole blossomed out of Miami’s culture scene where she trained in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop and ballroom. Nicole has been seen on America’s got talent, Youtube series One Shot, and has also danced on The X-Factor