ENSEMBLE
studio company (26-27)
AYU ISHIBASHI
Japanese Artist
Born and raised in Japan, Ayu graduated from the John Cranko School in Stuttgart.
During her studies, 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 prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP)
CORINA BIDIGA
Romanian Artist
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 training, 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.
EVA MARIA KOHUKTOVA
Slovak Artist
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.
STAY TUNED
...more members will be individually introduced over the course of the summer...
HELEN VÄRNO
Estonian Artist
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
Swedish Artist
Originally from Sweden, Sigrid graduated from the Royal Swedish Ballet School.
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 this prestigious stage, she performs 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).
SOFIA DIAS
Potuguese Artist
Sofia was born in Portugal, where she began her ballet training.
She later joined the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam, studying there 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.
STAY TUNED
...more members will be individually introduced over the course of the summer...
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
Born in Estonia, she trains at the Tallinn Ballet School and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
She begins her career with the Estonian National Ballet, and later works as a Principal Dancer with English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
She quickly becomes one of the leading ballet stars of her generation, enjoying a distinguished international career and receiving several prestigious awards.
She also obtains 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 | BALLET CLASS
Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Eve graduates from the Tallinn Ballet School and begins her career with the Estonian National Ballet.
In 2003, she joins Scottish Ballet, where she rises to the rank of Principal Dancer and enjoys 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
Originally from Estonia, Mari starts ballet in Tallinn and later completes her studies at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.
After being a professional dancer for eight seasons with Vanemuine Ballet in Tartu, she specializes 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...
MICHAL KRČMÁŘ
BALLET CLASS
Born in the Czech Republic, Michal graduates from the Prague Dance Conservatory.
After beginning his professional career with Bohemia Ballet and later the Prague State Opera Ballet, he joins the Finnish National Ballet in 2011, where he is rapidly promoted to Principal Dancer and later Lead Principal.
Throughout his career, he also appears 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
Born in Russia, Sergei Upkin graduates from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg.
During his career, he spends 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 also works as choreographer and, in 2013, he earns a Master's degree in Choreographic Pedagogy from the Vaganova Academy.
Following this achievement, he starts 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 is also the Artistic Director of the annual "Ballet Summer Estonia" Workshop". In 2023, because of growing international demand, he leaves this role and shifts 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...
STAY TUNED!
...more teachers to be invited
over the course of the season...