ENSEMBLE
studio company (26-27)
AYU ISHIBASHI
Ayu started her studies at Koike Ballet Studio in Hiroshima, and later graduated from the prestigious John Cranko School in Stuttgart.
During her training, she performed numerous times at the Stuttgart Opera House, including works by Kinsun Chan and Edward Clug.
She was also a medalist at several ballet competitions in Japan and a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP).
CORINA BIDIGA
Corina began her ballet training in Bucharest and later continued at the Nacho Duato Academy in Madrid, before graduating from the École Supérieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France.
During her studies, she attended many competitions, winning multiple medals and becoming a finalist at YAGP 2022 in Italy.
She has also performed Alice in Wonderland with the National Operetta and Musical Theatre in Romania, and Le Corsaire with the Romanian National Ballet in Bucharest.
GIOVANNA GOLIN
Giovanna trained at the Dance School of Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, Brazil, before continuing her professional studies at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.
She has worked with São Paulo Dance Company, Theatro Municipal Junior Company of São Paulo, Balletto di Parma, and the Corrado Abbati Company, performing both classical and contemporary repertoire.
She also performed at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and at the ARWE 2026 exhibition in Turin.
Throughout her career, she received Best Dancer and Best Group awards at renowned national and international dance festivals.
SOFIA DIAS
Sofia began her ballet training in Portugal.
She later attended the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam for four years.
After graduating in 2024, she joined the Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the Czech Republic as a corps de ballet member.
During her time there, she performed in a range of ballet and opera productions, including Heatscape (Justin Peck), The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Peer Gynt, and La Traviata among others.
More recently, she performed in a new production of The Nutcracker by Christiana Stefanou in Athens, dancing the leading role of Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy.
LEONOR COSTA FREITAS
Leonor trained at the Conservatório de Dança Dance Spot in Portugal.
She began her professional career in 2023 with Programa Território, an artistic residency where she performed works by Sol León, Paul Lightfoot and Douglas Lee.
She then joined Evolution Dance Platform in collaboration with Delattre Dance Company in Germany, performing works by Brian Scalini and Stéphen Delattre, and later Swiss Offspring Ballet in Switzerland, where she performed works by Franz Brodmann and Willer Rocha.
Most recently, she danced with Arles Youth Ballet Company in France, further expanding her repertoire with works by Kinsun Chan and Ricardo Fernando.
ZSÓFIA STRBKA
Zsófia began her training at the Hungarian National Ballet Institute before continuing her studies at the Tanz Akademie Zurich, where she graduated.
While in Switzerland, she performed works by George Balanchine and August Bournonville and worked with renowned contemporary choreographers.
In her graduating year, she had the opportunity to perform with Ballett Zurich in Giselle by Patrice Bart.
She then spent a season as an apprentice with Balet DJKT in Czechia, where her repertoire included works such as Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and The Nutcracker.
ELEONORA TEUTA BRAHOLLI
Eleonora began her training in Bolzano and later continued at Mosa Ballet School in Belgium, where she recently graduated.
During her training, she worked with numerous international teachers and choreographers and studied a wide range of classical and contemporary pieces.
Her performed repertoire includes The Nutcracker and Raymonda, as well as La Sylphide, staged by Dinna Bjørn.
She has also danced contemporary works by Howard Quintero and Patrick Delcroix.
Eleonora was a finalist at the prestigious YAGP Finals in New York and won 1st place at the “Europa in Danza” competition in Rome.
MARIA GRAZIETTI
Born in Italy, Maria graduated from the Wiener Ballettakademie in Vienna, and from the Wiener Bundesgymnasium.
As student, she performed at the Vienna State Opera in Raymonda, Coppélia, and more.
After graduation, she continued her artistic development for two years attending the Professional Training Program in Cagliari - Italy, directed by Leon Cino.
Since then, she has performed at Teatro Lirico and Teatro Massimo (both in Cagliari), and several other European theatres, dancing many classical pas de deux (Don Quixote, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Le Corsaire).
She was also awarded First Prize at the Prix d’Europe and the Grand Prix d’Europe.
JOÃO XAVIER
João trained at the Annarella Sanchez International Conservatory of Ballet in Portugal.
He has worked with Companhia Nacional de Bailado in Lisbon, Cape Town City Ballet, DJKT in Pilsen as Demi Soloist, and the Estonian National Ballet.
Throughout these experiences, João has built a vast classical and contemporary repertoire, performing works by renowned choreographers including Vaslav Nijinsky, José Martinez, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gyula Harangozó, Serge Lifar and Maina Gielgud, among others.
João was also selected to participate in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne and has received numerous awards at international competitions, including first prize at YAGP Paris in 2022.
EVA MARIA KOHUTKOVA
Originally from Slovakia, Eva Maria just graduated from the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy under the direction of Patrick Armand and Alessandra Ferri.
During her studies, she performed at the Vienna State Opera, the Volksoper, and the Neustaatsoper, appearing in Coppélia, La Bayadère, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, and My First Sleeping Beauty.
In addition to the classical repertoire, she has also performed in neoclassical works, including Prisma by Christiana Stefanou and UNISONO by Hans van Manen.
NOA LEVY
Noa graduated from the Jerusalem Ballet School before joining Jerusalem Ballet.
During her time with the company, she performed solo roles in original works by Nadya Timofeyeva and Martin Schonberg (such as Onegin, among others) as well as classical pieces (Rose Adagio and Bluebird Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty, Kitri Act III from Don Quixote, Pas d’Esclave from Le Corsaire and more).
Noa has also received recognition at international competitions, winning 1st Prize at YAGP Israel in 2022 and 1st Prize at the Global Dance Open Finals in England in 2025.
Following the competition, she was awarded a 100% scholarship to the Professional Ballet Course at City Academy in London.
VALENTI JOKIPII
Born in London, Valenti was raised in Finland, where he attended the School of Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
He has furthered his training through international summer intensives with the Royal Danish Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance and Finnish International Ballet School.
During his studies, Valenti has performed a variety of classical repertoire, including leading roles in Paquita, the Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle, and Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty.
Valenti has received several awards at national competitions, including first prizes in both classical ballet and contemporary dance at XDance 2024, as well as second prize at the 2026 Finnish National Ballet Competition.
HELEN VÄRNO
During her studies at Tallinn Ballet School, Helen performed in numerous productions, including Ben Stevenson’s Nutcracker.
After graduation, she worked for Astrakhan State Ballet, State Opera Plovdiv and later joined France Concert, touring to France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium.
Throughout her career, she has performed classical repertoire including Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Paquita.
SIGRID ÅBERG
Sigrid graduated from the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm.
She was also a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), where she was awarded nine different scholarships.
Following her studies, she joined the Royal Swedish Ballet as an apprentice.
On their prestigious stage, she performed in two world-famous works by Kenneth MacMillan: firstly L’Histoire de Manon (while at the RSB School) and lastly Romeo and Juliet (as an apprentice with the company).
GUEST DANCERS (26-27)
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Cristiano Principato
Cristiano Principato – born and raised in Italy, trains and graduates from La Scala Ballet School in Milan.
He then works with La Scala Ballet Company, Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company, Dutch National Ballet Main Company (until reaching the rank of Coryphée), and lastly as a Soloist with the Estonian National Ballet, starring in most of the company's principal roles.
Throughout his career, he appears in group, solo and principal roles from the classical repertoire (Petipa, Vaganova, Bournonville, Vainonen, Balanchine, Nureyev, Wright, Makarova, Lifar, Fokine, Messerer, Stevenson, Cranko) and the contemporary one (Forsythe, Petit, Kylián, Dawson, Van Manen, Neumeier, Preljocaj, Béjart, Ratmansky, Wheeldon, Osta, L. Ochoa and more).
Internationally, he performs in Milan (La Scala and Teatro Arcimboldi), Amsterdam (Het Muziektheater and Stadsschouwburg), Saint Petersburg (Mariinsky Theatre), Hamburg (Staatsoper), London (Coliseum and Royal Opera House's Linbury Stage), Varna (International Ballet Competition), Madrid (Teatros del Canal), Granada (Alhambra), Seville (Teatro de la Maestranza), Hong Kong and other cities in Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Mexico, Kazakhstan and the Dominican Republic.
Since 2016, Cristiano choreographs on average one or two new pieces each season, spanning various types of works (one-number piece, one-act ballet, full-length ballet, music video) in very diverse contexts: for Estonian National Ballet, for Estonian National Television, for both Estonian National and Dutch National Ballet's choreographic workshops, for Estonian National Ballet School’s annual performance, for Dutch National Ballet Junior Company's Choreographic Academy, for the private touring production Cinderella, for ballet galas and more.
Over the years, Cristiano also gains managing and leadership expertise thanks to different experiences, both theoretical (Positioning Ballet Conference, Young Rural Retreat) and practical (as organizer of a charity ballet gala, coordinator of Dutch National Ballet's choreographic workshop, representative of the dancers of Estonian National Ballet, stage director of the touring production Cinderella etcetera).
He also has experience as a jury member, teacher, coach, runway model, photo model and more.
In June 2026, Cristiano retires from a twelve-year career with national ballet troupes to found Novarts Ballet in Tallinn, where he serves as director, as well as main coach and choreographer.
GUEST TEACHERS (26-27)
AGNES OAKS
BALLET CLASS
Agnes Oaks trained at Tallinn Ballet School and at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
She began her career with the Estonian National Ballet, and later worked as a Principal Dancer with English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
She quickly became one of the leading ballet stars of her generation, enjoying a distinguished international career and receiving several prestigious awards.
She also obtained her official teacher's Diploma from the Royal Ballet School in London.
Agnes currently serves as ballet master with the Estonian National Ballet (coaching principal roles), and also as faculty teacher at MUBA Academy (the school officially affiliated with the national ballet company in Tallinn).
EVE MUTSO
YOGA CLASS
Eve Mutso graduated from the Tallinn Ballet School and began her career with the Estonian National Ballet.
In 2003, she joined Scottish Ballet, where she rose to the rank of Principal Dancer and enjoyed an acclaimed international career.
In more recent years, she has established herself as a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher, creating and presenting works internationally (including for the Estonian National Ballet) and giving lectures with prominent institutions such as the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and MUBA, among others.
She is also a Yoga Alliance-certified Yin and Vinyasa yoga instructor, blending some Qigong practice into her classes too.
MARI KÕIV
PILATES CLASS
Mari Kõiv started ballet training in Tallinn and later completed her studies at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.
After being a professional dancer for eight seasons with Vanemuine Ballet in Tartu, she specialized in STOTT Pilates in Toronto before returning to Tallinn, where she has become one of the city's leading Pilates instructors.
Over the past decade, besides having her own private studio, she has also been part of the Estonian National Ballet's Health Team, teaching one weekly group Pilates class followed by individual sessions for the dancers of the company.
STAY TUNED!
...more teachers to be invited
over the course of the season...
LINNAR LOORIS
BALLET CLASS
Linnar Looris trained at Tallinn Ballet School and joined the Estonian National Ballet, where he quickly rose to the rank of Principal Dancer.
In 2006, he joined Birmingham Royal Ballet and later moved to America for twelve years, dancing as a First Soloist with Houston Ballet.
Throughout his performing career, he appeared in countless leading roles across the classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoire, performing internationally throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Estonian National Ballet, a position he has held since 2019, and has recently begun choreographing for the company too.
He also works as répétiteur, coach, guest teacher and motivational speaker.
MICHAL KRČMÁŘ
BALLET CLASS
Michal Krčmář graduated from the Prague Dance Conservatory.
After beginning his professional career with Bohemia Ballet and later the Prague State Opera Ballet, in 2011 he joined the Finnish National Ballet, where he was rapidly promoted to Principal Dancer and later Lead Principal.
Throughout his career, he also appeared as a guest artist with companies including the Estonian National Ballet, the Czech National Ballet, the National Ballet of Georgia and Teatro San Carlo and many more.
A prizewinner at several international ballet competitions, he is also regularly invited to perform at ballet galas around the world. Besides his performing career, Michal works as a ballet teacher and coach, holding both company classes and student intensives.
SERGEI UPKIN
BALLET CLASS
Sergei Upkin graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg.
During his career, he spent two seasons with Staatsballett Berlin and over two decades with the Estonian National Ballet, becoming one of the company's most celebrated Principal Dancers.
Sergei worked as choreographer too, and in 2013 he earned a Master's degree in Choreographic Pedagogy from the Vaganova Academy.
Following this achievement, he started teaching at Estonian National Ballet's affiliated school, doing so for years alongside his performing career.
After his retirement from the stage in 2025, he now continues teaching there, full time.
Since its founding in 2017, he was also the Artistic Director of the annual "Ballet Summer Estonia" Workshop". From 2023, because of growing international demand, he left this role and shifted to guest teaching worldwide, both during summer intensives and as company class teacher.
STAY TUNED!
...more teachers to be invited
over the course of the season...