MARINA ALMAYEVA

Marina Almayeva 

Founder and Artistic Director of Marina Almayeva School of Classical Ballet.

Marina Almayeva received her professional ballet education under Vaganova curriculum at some of the best state-sponsored schools of choreography in the former Soviet Union, such as colleges of choreography in Baku and Perm. Having competed her studies, she accepted the position of a Soloist at the well-known ballet company “Moskva” in Moscow where she danced for 6 years, touring extensively throughout Russia and Europe. In 1999 she joined “Ballet Arlington” in Arlington, TX and danced there for two seasons.

It is the combination of her superb training, professional experience of the dancer and ballet instructor, and her passion for the art has allowed Marina Almayeva to build a truly unique pre-professional classical ballet program in the heart of Texas. Her teaching method is based on the best features of famous Russian Vaganova curriculum combined with the new approach to athletic conditioning of the dancer’s body with the goal to achieve an extreme flexibility, strength, and stamina.

Over the years between 2003 and 2018 students of Marina Almayeva have won the following awards at the regional semi-finals of Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition, both in solo and ensemble categories:

- 2 Hope Awards (Katia Almayeva, Irving, TX  2008, Gillian Fitz, Dallas, TX 2010, pre-competitive age division)

- 1 Youth Grand Prix (Katia Almayeva, Dallas, TX 2010, Junior age division)

- 1 Grand Prix (Katia Almayeva, Columbia, SC, 2012, Senior age division)

- 14 First Place Awards

- 10 Second Place Awards

- 8 Third Place Awards

Marina Almayeva is a recipient of two “Outstanding Teacher” nominations by YAGP competition – in Spartanburg, SC 2008 and in Dallas, TX 2009.