Katya Preiser

Katya has been dancing for over 20 years. She is the daughter of Russian parents from Moscow who immigrated to the US in the late 70’s bringing with them all the Russian traditions and love of the Ballet. She was born and raised in Southern California.

Her first teacher was Athena Pallas, Prima Ballerina of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Among the academies of her early dance training are the Ballet Met Academy of Columbus, Long Beach Ballet, and the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara. During her time at the above mentioned companies she was invited to perform in their professional productions. Katya, continually in search of the best available training in the United States, moved away from home at an early age. She was accepted and given scholarships to SAB (School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet), and Boston Ballet for 3 years.

In Boston Ballet Katya studied under Madame Tatyana Legat of the Kirov Ballet. She danced numerous corps de ballet roles in Boston Ballet productions under the direction of Anna-Marie Holmes including Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere (staged by the Russian Ballet Great Natalia Dudinskaya), The Nutcracker, as well as several modern choreographies.

It was during this time in Boston that Katya began to explore other forms of dance. She performed in several musical theater productions, films, and even fashion shows.

Upon her return to Southern California she studied the Meisner Technique of Acting and was featured in commercials, music videos, and short films. She also studied Jazz, Character Folk Dance, Modern, Partnering, Choreography, Pilates and Yoga.

Katya's previous mentor during the last four years was the protégé of Natalia Dudinskaya and Ninel Kurgapkina, both principle dancers with the Kirov Ballet and students of Agrippina Vaganova. Katya is now working with famed Prima Ballerina from the Bolshoi Ballet Alla Khaniashvili on refining more performance oriented technique.

In 2004 Katya was selected out of hundreds of applicants nationwide to represent the United States at the 21^st International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. Considered the Olympics of Ballet, the Varna Competition is the first and most respected ballet competition in the world. Of the 125 competitors only 2 Americans were admitted. Katya considers it to be a great honor to represent her country at this most prestigious of international Ballet competitions.

In 2005 Katya had the opportunity of a lifetime to have private coaching sessions with the legendary Ninel Kurgapkina, who is currently the Principal Ballet Mistress of the Kirov . An opportunity given to few Kirov dancers! Katya was then selected to perform the lead variation from Paquita at a benefit gala honoring Ninel before her return to her residence in St. Petersburg.

Katya has been dancing & teaching ballet professionally for more than six years. Her style is the Classical Russian Vaganova System. The same system that trained ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Anna Pavlova, Natalia Makarova, and George Balanchine. She has taught this “pure” classical ballet syllabus for 4 years. As the top instructor she has helped choreograph and stage many student performances. She has also staged scenes from “La Bayadere” for the Pasadena Civic Ballet.

In addition Katya has developed a ballet based fitness program designed to achieve a “dancers body” and help people develop specific muscle groups and help prevent and recover from injuries. Katya introduced her “BalletFit” program at Gold’s Gym in Hollywood with much success. Katya has been instructing and inspiring an array of levels and ages of dancers, ranging from coaching professionals to helping children with disabilities.

Katya’s mission is to share the knowledge of the beauty, joy, and science of her art form. She wants to pass down the torch of the Vagonova system which represents ballet’s purest form. Preventing it from slipping into obscurity by passing all the knowledge and experience she has gained over the years to a new generation.

Katya’s life is devoted to a pursuit of the best, purest form of Classical Ballet. Thru her work she hopes to inspire both her students and audiences.