ALUMNI
Vera Mazeeva
Vera began her dance journey at the age of 3, training with Ms. Yanina even before the founding of the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet (ARCB). Her passion for ballet deepened in middle school when Ms. Yanina encouraged her to attend her first ballet summer intensive, marking the start of her more focused training. Continuing her development at ARCB, Vera participated in prestigious competitions such as YAGP. Following her freshman year of high school, she attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in New York City, where she earned an invitation to train at the academy in Moscow, Russia, for the following year. This opportunity was a dream come true, made possible by Ms. Yanina’s unwavering support and mentorship. After nearly a year of training at Bolshoi, Vera made the difficult decision to step away from pursuing a professional ballet career to focus on her academic ambitions. She is completing her Undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in applied and computational mathematics and computational biology. While academics have become her primary focus, she continues to stay connected to dance as a member of a contemporary student company. Vera credits Ms. Yanina for instilling in her a deep appreciation for the artistry and discipline of dance. This foundation not only fueled her love for ballet but also inspired the dedication and perseverance she applies to all aspects of her life today.
Sarah Richter
Sarah began her ballet journey at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet at the age of 12. Under the guidance of Ms. Yanina, she developed a strong foundation and a deep passion for the art form. Only a few years later, she took a significant step toward her professional aspirations by joining the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. After graduating at the age of 17, Sarah continued her training at the A&A Center for Dance in Chicago and later had the privilege of performing with the Grand Kyiv Ballet. She has also participated in summer intensives at esteemed ballet schools, including the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Ellison Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and Philadelphia Ballet. Her competitive career is equally impressive, with participation at renowned competitions such as YAGP, Tanzolymp Berlin, and the ADC-IBC finals. Sarah’s dedication and talent have recently earned her a trainee position with Sarasota Ballet.
Carter Smalling
Carter joined ARCB in the fall of 2018. Between 2018 and 2021, he performed in ARCB’s productions of The Nutcracker and Don Quixote and represented the school in many dance competitions, including YAGP and WBAC. At the 2021 YAGP Seattle Semi-finals, he earned 2nd place in the Senior Contemporary Category and was invited to the 2021 YAGP Finals. Following his performance at the Finals, Carter was offered a place in Boston Ballet’s Post-Graduate Program. After completing the 2021–2022 season in Boston, he continued his training at the prestigious John Cranko Schule (JCS) in Stuttgart, Germany. Carter has since graduated from JCS as a state-certified classical dancer and subsequently joined the Stuttgart Ballet.
