Summer Camp Faculty

Yuliya (Julia) Kichigina

Classical, Contemporary & Character Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Pre-Ballet Instructor

Born in Dnipro, Ukraine, Yuliya began her ballet training at the Dnipro State Ballet School and, at the age of thirteen, was accepted into the Belarusian State Choreographic College in the class of N.S. Davydenko. She continued her studies in Kiev, graduating in 2006 from the Kiev State Choreographic College under the guidance of V.A. Denisenko, before joining the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine. There, she quickly rose to perform solo and leading roles in the classical repertoire, including Carmen in Carmen, Lileya in Lileya, the Street Dancer in Don Quixote, as well as featured roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Sleeping Beauty.

In 2013, Yuliya relocated to Moscow to join the Moscow Ballet Theater, expanding her repertoire into contemporary works. Beginning in 2015, she established herself on the international stage, performing with renowned companies across more than a dozen countries spanning Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America. In 2022, she joined the World Ballet Company, touring North America in Swan Lake. Her experience has placed her on many of the world’s prominent stages, earning recognition for her versatility and commanding presence. Following her World Ballet tour, Yuliya was invited to the faculty of We Dance Academies in Florida by Director A.N. Yachmennikov.

Yuliya holds a Master’s Degree in Ballet Pedagogy from the Kiev University. With an extensive performance career and global touring experience, she now dedicates her artistry and knowledge to teaching, bringing a standard of excellence shaped by years of work with leading theaters and companies worldwide.

Solangy (Solya) Oorzhak

Classical, Contemporary & Character Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Pre-Ballet Instructor

Born in the culturally rich Republic of Tuva, nestled on the border of Mongolia, Solangy Oorzhak began her dance journey at the age of seven at the local Children’s Choreographic School under the mentorship of esteemed teacher Raisa Sedipovna Stal-Ool. From her earliest classes, Solangy stood out for her innate musicality, expressive quality, and refined physicality. Recognizing her exceptional talent and artistic potential, her teachers encouraged her to pursue professional ballet studies beyond her hometown.

At just 11 years old, Solangy was selected through a highly competitive audition process to join the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, also known as the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. There, she underwent training for eight intensive years (2008–2016) of elite classical training in ballet technique, character dance, duet work, and repertoire under the guidance of some of Russia’s most distinguished pedagogues. She completed her studies in the graduating class of Elena Nikolaevna Vatulya, whose mentorship helped refine her technique and develop her distinct stage presence.

During her time at the Academy, Solangy gained invaluable professional experience performing in full-length productions and collaborative works. She had the rare opportunity to perform with La Scala Ballet in A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and was frequently cast in academic performances and gala showcases, gaining both depth and versatility as a young artist.

After graduation, Solangy performed as a Soloist with several major companies, including the Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Tuva National Theatre of Music and Dance “Sayany.” She danced in classical repertoire productions throughout Russia, performing in ballets such as: Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, Le Corsaire, La Fille Mal Gardée, Romeo and Juliet.

With “Sayany,” she also explored a unique range of stylized neoclassical and folkloric works, such as The Sounding Tenderness, The Hunters and the Deer, and The Flower, in addition to performing solo classical variations from Paquita, Flames of Paris, and the celebrated Gamzatti Variation from La Bayadère.

In addition to her dance career, Solangy completed four years of academic study at the Tomsk Medical University, specializing in human anatomy and physiology an experience that greatly enriches her understanding of kinesiology and injury prevention, both as an artist and educator.

Today, Solangy brings to Osipova Ballet Academy not only the excellence of traditional Russian ballet pedagogy, but also a rare emotional intelligence and care for her students’ individual needs. Known for her musicality, clean classical line, and attention to stylistic detail, she approaches each class with purpose, warmth, and a commitment to nurturing each dancer’s potential, both on and off stage.

Irina Dovidovskaya

Pre-Ballet Program Director - Classical, Contemporary & Character Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Pre-Ballet Instructor

Born in Minsk, Republic of Belarus. Irina began her dancing career at the age of 3, dancing in a group on the main stages of the country. At the age of 10, Irina entered the Belarusian State Choreographic Gymnasium-College in the class of Klara Nikolaevna Malysheva. Over the course of 9 years of study, Irina showed excellent results and, while still studying, toured the cities of Germany and England with other students . She also completed an internship at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus

After completing her studies, Irina was hired by the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theater as a Stage Master.

In 2013, Irina was accepted into the troupe of the Moscow Classical Ballet Theater of Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilyov to the position of Stage Master.

Throughout her creative career, Irina danced the main roles in the ballets Giselle (Myrtha), The Nutcracker (Myshilda), The Rite of Spring (Besovataya), Swan Lake (Great Swans, Spanish Dance), Don Quixote (Gypsy Dance, Mercedes, Bolero) and others.

Performances with her participation took place on the best stages of the world: the Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, the Alexandria Theater, the New Stage of the Bolshoi Theater, as well as in the cities of Japan, America, Europe, Morocco, Taiwan, Thailand, China and many others. Irina also conducted master classes for students of ballet schools during tours

In 2017, she graduated from the State Institute of Theater Arts GITIS, choreographer department (ballet pedagogy) on a course with Prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Maria Evgenievna Allash.

In 2022, Irina joined the World Ballet series as a ballet dancer, and also conducted ballet classes for artists.

In 2023, she completed training in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) and conducted master classes for students of ballet schools New Tampa Dance Theater and Alessi Dance Factory (Tampa, Florida).

Ekaterina (Katya) Ulitina

Classical, Contemporary & Character Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Pre-Ballet Instructor

Ekaterina Ulitina, born in Saint Petersburg into a family of dancers from the Mikhailovsky Theatre, is a distinguished ballet dancer and educator. She graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2011, where she trained under esteemed professors in classical, character, and contemporary dance. She later completed a master’s degree in pedagogical studies at the academy in 2023.

Her performance career began at the National Theatre Belgrade in Serbia, where she performed a full classical repertoire before becoming a leading soloist at the St. Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre. Notable roles include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Mari in Nutcracker, and soloist roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and Don Quixote.

As a teacher, she has been instructing students since 2012, focusing on classical, contemporary, and character dance. She has prepared students for competitions and specialized in ballet conditioning and talent development. Additionally, she has served as a judge in international ballet competitions and authored a scholarly work on A.Y. Vaganova’s scientific methodology of classical dance.