Ballet - Course - Intensive

LEANNE BENJAMIN

Former Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet & Former Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet 

Leanne Benjamin OBE AM is a highly acclaimed and award- winning dancer, who was a principal ballerina with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Deutsche Oper Berlin and ultimately a principal for 21 years with the Royal Ballet. Born in Queensland, Australia, she started her professional ballet career at the age of 18 and retired from the stage at the age of 49, after a world-class career. Leanne received the Critic’s Circle Dance Awards for Best Female Dancer (2004, 2009) and the De Valois Award for Outstanding achievement in Dance (2013).

In 2005 Leanne received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in recognition of her services to dance and in 2015she was appointed an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in 2015.In 2019, Leanne was the recipient of the inaugural Agent-General Queensland Day Award, and in 2023 received the Australian of the Year Award.

Leanne is the Patron of the Tait Memorial Trust and is the Artistic Director for UK Young Classical Dancer. She was the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Royal Ballet Companies (2019-2024) and in 2024, served as the Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet.

Leanne devotes herself as a coach for major ballet productions for companies including the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, and Australian Ballet. She is also much in demand as an international judge and motivational guest speaker. In October 2021, Leanne released her autobiography, Built for Ballet.

ANNA URBAN

Former Principal Dancer & Ballet Teacher at School of Hamburg Ballet

was born in1970 Tomsk, Russia. 1981‐1989 Graduate from Leningrad Academic Choreographic School Vaganova directed by Konstantin Sergeyev (Class‐Ninel’ Kurgapkina).1989 ‐ Admitted to the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre as a soloist, directed by Oleg Vinogradov.

In 1992 she joined the HAMBURG BALLET as a soloist and was promoted to principal in 1994 ‐ 2014. John Neumeier created numerous roles and soli for her including: Penelope in „Odyssee“, Ophelia in „Hamlet“, Romola Nijinsky in „Nijinsky“ and Irina Nikolajewna Arkadina in „The Seagull”. Swedish choreograph Mats Ek created: „Opinion loosely grazing“, „Sleeping beauty“ Golden fairy. She also danced a wide‐ranging repertory.

ALLISON BROWN

Teacher & Coach for William Forsythe ballets

The Canadian Allison Brown has been part of the transnational community of dance for over thirty years, in the roles of educator, dancer, choreographer, and rehearsal director. Allison was Professor of Ballet for Contemporary Dancers at the Center for Contemporary Dance at the Academy for Music and Dance in Cologne from 2019 to 2023. She was on faculty at the University for Musik and Performing Arts in Frankfurt from 2012 to 2019. She is teaching in a broad array of local, national and international contexts and formats.

Allison has staged Forsythe’s works such as Duo, Workwithinwork and Artifact Suite on various occasions for dance companies worldwide.

As a choreographer, Allison Brown has been creating works since 1998. These include commissions for Pretty Ugly/Ballett Freiburg, the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt,Transitions Dance Company Laban London and Gärtnerplatztheater Munich. Allison danced with the New York City Ballet, Twyla Tharp and Dancers, Amanda Miller’s Pretty Ugly Dance Company and Saburo Teshigawara’s Karas Company.

From 1996 to 2004 she was a member of William Forsythe’s Ballet Frankfurt. Allison’s pivotal teachers include: Kim Abel, Maggie Black, Nora Colpman, Alexandra Danilova, William Forsythe, Sara Rudner, Karin von Aroldingen and Stanley Williams.

EVA LÓPEZ CREVILLÉN

Director of the Conservatorio Superior de Danza María de Ávila

Professor of Analysis and Practice of Classical Dance Repertoire. PhD from Rey Juan Carlos University. Choreographic Assistant to Nacho Duato in various international companies, such as the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, the Mikhailovsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, the Stanislavski Ballet in Moscow, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Lyon Opera Ballet, Universal Ballet in Seoul, Dance Theatre of Harlem, among others. Member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa María de la Arrixaca in Murcia. Adviser to the Superior Council of Artistic Education as a figure of recognized prestige in the field of artistic education.

She studied Classical Dance at the Royal Superior School of Dramatic Art and Dance in Madrid, graduating with honors. She has danced for two decades as a soloist and principal dancer in the main roles of traditional classical repertoire, neoclassical, and contemporary dance, working under the direction of María de Ávila, Ray Barra, Maya Plisetskaya, and Nacho Duato, which has allowed her to become familiar with choreographic works by Duato himself, Ray Barra, Petipa, Vicente Nebrada, George Balanchine, Glen Tetley, Olga Roriz, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, and Ohad Naharin.

Roland Petit selected her to perform the most renowned works of his repertoire and chose her to dance the role of Albertine in the ballet "Proust ou Les Intermitences du Coeur", alongside Massimo Murru, within the framework of the 64th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, earning significant critical and public acclaim.

Principal Dancer in the RTVE cultural program "Rodrigo, Steps and Traces in the Dark". Choreographer and Principal Dancer in the RTVE cultural program "El Divino Fracaso, a monograph on the writer Rafael Cansinos Assens".

Her artistic career spans the globe, participating in prestigious International Music and Dance Festivals, including: Havana International Festival; Castell de Perelada; Cap Roig; Segovia International Festival; Miami International Festival; 64th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

As a representative of Spain, she has been invited to perform in numerous international galas, including: The Royal International Gala on the occasion of the inauguration of Glasgow as European Capital of Culture in 1990; World Stars at the Opera, International Ballet Gala in Budapest 1999.

Winner of the Fourth National Dance Competition of Spain. 1987. Nominee for the Max Performing Arts Awards in the VI edition. 2003. Prominent Woman in the Region of Murcia at the First National Congress on Women and Culture, February 2002. Honorary Award for Educational Commitment "Professor Julio Pérez" 2022.

Guest lecturer at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg (being the first Spanish to teach contemporary repertoire, by Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato, at that school), at the State Ballet School in Berlin, at Europa Danse, at the International Academy of Dance in Biarritz, at the 6th International Dance Stage of the City of Verona, at the international course ART OF (Switzerland), and at REVOLVE DANCE (Romania). Professor of classical dance and contemporary dance workshops for the National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team. Professor of classical dance and coach in the program broadcast on RTVE, Prodigios.

She prepares students for national and international dance competitions where they win top prizes, highlighting the Excellence Award (gold medal) from the Prix de Lausanne (2001).

Judge in national dance competitions (La Coruña, Castellón, Alicante, Zaragoza) and international (XVII International Classical Dance Competition in Grasse, France. 2004).

ANA PRESTA

Guest Ballet Teacher 

Ana Presta is an accomplished ballet master and former soloist with extensive international experience both on stage and as a teacher. She was a soloist at Semperoper Ballet Dresden (2006–2016) under the direction of Aaron Watkin, and previously danced with renowned companies such as Lyon Opera Ballet, Ballet Victor Ullate, and Teatro alla Scala. 

Ana has worked closely with leading choreographers including William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, and John Neumeier. As a ballet master, she has held positions at Theater Chemnitz, Schauspiel Köln, and Theater Ulm, and has been a guest teacher with institutions such as Ballet de Genève, Semperoper Dresden, and Göteborg Ballet. A graduate of Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, she also holds a French State Diploma in ballet pedagogy.

DANIEL MULLIGAN

Ballet Dancer & Ballet Teacher

Daniel Mulligan's dance journey began in his native Great Britain, where he honed his skills as a Junior Associate at the Royal Ballet School. With a string of distinctions and awards, including the prestigious Phyliss Bedells Bursary, he graduated with flying colors, armed with a National Diploma in Professional Dance and Advanced Level certifications.

Joining Ballett Zürich in 2007, Daniel swiftly rose through the ranks, from Junior Ballet to the esteemed position of Soloist in 2017. His repertoire, spanning classical ballet to contemporary masterpieces, showcased his versatility and artistry, captivating audiences worldwide.

Daniel's passion for dance extended to teaching, holding workshops at the Zürich Ballet and Contemporary Academy and the Opera House Zürich. Armed with a Postgraduate Teaching Certificate, he shaped the future of dance with innovative methodologies.

Beyond the stage, Daniel's talent shone in film, portraying roles like Mercutio in "Romeo und Julia" and collaborating on diverse projects like "Becoming Giulia" and "Dogmen."

An accomplished musician and fluent in German, Daniel's creative spirit and understanding of interpersonal dynamics enriched both his art and personal life.

Daniel Mulligan's legacy is one of dedication, creativity, and inspiring artistry, leaving an indelible mark on the world stage.

JEANNETTE CHANDRIKA FÜZESI

Ballet Teacher, Yoga Nidra and Yoga PMA Instructor

Jeannette was born in Zurich. She felt already drawing to dance and yoga from an early age. She started her dance education at the ballet school of the Opera House Zurich and completed at the State Ballet Academy in Budapest. Patricia Neary, Zsuzsa Kuhn and Lazslo Sterbinsky was Jeannettes most important teachers. The first ballet company, where Jeannette danced was the Opera House Zurich. After she has worked in various state theaters, such as in Cologne, Giessen, Darmstadt, Würzburg and at the Theater Ulm.

Since childhood, Jeannette has big passion and love to yoga, which she has been teaching for 20 years.

JULIA STANOEVA

Lecturer for Voice and Speech at the ZHDK in Zurich

Julia Stanoeva began studying speech education and speech arts in 2012 at HMDK Stuttgart and focused on reciting literary texts in front of an audience. Julia Stanoeva's desire to also use her art socially led her to interrupt her studies in 2015 and take up geography studies at the Humboldt University of Berlin. She deliberately sought out interfaces between society and art as work insights, for example at the artist collective "Center for Political Beauty", the NDR, or at PIK Potsdam. In 2019 she completed her BA in Speech Education and a year later her MA in Speech Arts. In the process, she performed as a speaker in numerous contexts (Staatsgalerie and Literaturhaus Stuttgart; voice over/sync/image films and as a speaker on SWR radio). She started the Master's program Theory and Practice of Experimental Performance in 2020 and is a lecturer for Voice and Speech at the ZHDK in Zurich in BA Theater since September 2021. It is Ms. Stanoeva's particular concern to lend her voice to political and social issues and to provide food for thought beyond the mere transmission of information. To seek this in the world of literature is explained by her attitude that ideas and possible answers are already there in art and only need to be heard.

OLEG KLYMYUK

Ballet Teacher & Director of ART of

was born in Lutsk, Ukraine.
He completed his training at the State Ballet Academy of Kiev (Ukraine).
From 2003, he joined the Semperoper Ballett Dresden where he became first soloist in 2012.
During his career, Oleg had had the opportunity to work with renowned international choreographers, setters and ballet masters such as William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, John Neumeier, Mats Ek, Alexei Ratmansky, David Dawson, Uwe Scholz and many others.
He has danced in a varied repertoire ranging from classical masterpieces to cutting edge contemporary pieces. In 2012, he obtained the bachelor's degree for ballet teacher discipline, and in 2013, he graduated with a master diploma for modern choreography and the qualification of choreographer of modern dance of the Ukrainian State University of Humanities.
In 2013, he helped to stage William Forsythe’s “In the Middle Somewhat Elevated” at the Paris Opera Ballet. In 2015, Oleg had assisted William Forsythe in staging his piece at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington.
In 2012, he founded and became the director of ART of.