Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory opens

Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory opensValentina Kozlova, former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and New York City Ballet, announces the opening of the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory at 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk, CT. The school announces its Summer Intensive, to be held August 6 – 15, with the full season starting September 10. 

 

The conservatory relocates to Norwalk after 15 years in midtown New York City, continuing its teaching method based on the traditional Russian Vaganova technique flavored with the American idiom.

 

Moscow native Valentina Kozlova was recently honored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in the 2018 July Fourth Distinguished Immigrants Tribute. Every Independence Day, the corporation salutes the invaluable role that immigrants play in helping to advance our society, culture and economy.

 

Trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School, Kozlova appeared as principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, dancing Romeo and JulietSleeping BeautySwan Lake – all the leading roles – before defecting to the U.S. in 1979. At the invitation of George Balanchine, she joined New York City Ballet as a principal dancer, appearing with the company for 13 years. On Broadway, Kozlova was seen as Vera Baronova in On Your Toes and in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. She is founder and director of the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition, held annually in New York City and attracting dancers from 20+ countries around the world. She’s also a judge and coach for numerous international competitions.

 

Kozlova’s conservatory will offer a full schedule of classes in ballet and contemporary dance for youngsters, beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers, including classes in pointe and variations.

 

Joining Kozlova, conservatory instructors will be Nina Buisson, international contemporary dance teacher and choreographer; Christina Fagundes, former member of San Francisco Ballet and soloist with American Ballet Theatre; Mala Fitzpatrick, dedicated for over 20 years to teaching children; Emily Hull, trained at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Jacques D’Amboise’s National Dance Institute; Stephanie Marini, formerly with Boston Ballet; and Toleu Mukanov, a Kazakhstan native that was previously a principal with the Astana Ballet and Ballet Theatre in Moscow.

 

For more information, visit www.vkdcny.com.

 

Photo: Valentina Kozlova. Photo by Yelena Yeva.