Artistic Directors, Stephanie Murrish and Daniil Gaifullin while having an illustrious ballet career as a Principal Ballet couple for over 20 years together and they began teaching in 2004. They both bring and offer their extensive knowledge of not just classical ballettraining/education but as well as life experiences in the art form. Ms. Murrish received private training from Maestro Celli, the protégé of Maestro Cecchetti, as well Donna Bonasera, Xenia Korsorukov, Ballet Hysell, Nutmeg Ballet and was the first American to train at the Stedelijk Instituut voor Ballet on Full Scholarship in Antwerp, Belgium. She began her professional career with the Cincinnati Ballet achieving the rank of Soloist before her partnership with her husband, Daniil. Mr. Gaifullin is a graduate of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. At 18 years old after graduation he became a Principal Dancer with the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre in the Ukraine. Upon his arrival to the USA, he was a Principal Dancer with Ballet Mississippi prior to his partnership with his wife, Stephanie. Together they had a wonderful career of a partnership on and off of the stage. Having the opportunity to perform principal roles as a couple from the classical repertoire, some Balanchine ballets, contemporary works and ballets that were created specifically for them as a couple. Their career as a Principal couple was with the Charleston Ballet Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, and Ballet de Santiago, while with these companies they had the opportunity to work with world renowned directors, ballet masters and choreographers. They are a ballet family and their son is a professional ballet artist.
In their teaching careers the have been Artistic Directors of the Lone Star Ballet, Owner/Directors of the Ballet Amarillo Academy, faculty members with the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education and teachers/Co-Directors of the ballet program at Theatre Arts and master guest teachers throughout the years.
They have had wonderful recognition throughout the years not only as artists but as teachers; their students receiving accolades and recognition!
· 2005-2009, 2011-2012, 2017-2019 Youth America Grand Prix
Regional Semi-Finals & NYC International Finals
· 2012, 2018 World Ballet Competition
· 2019 ADC-Youth International Ballet Competition
· 2007 International Spoleto Festival Italy
· 2007 YAGP Outstanding Choreographer Award
· 2008 Dance Magazine Featured Article, “Child Prodigies”
· 2018 YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award
· 2019 YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award
· 2018, 2019 Russian Pointe Program Teacher
Their students also have gone onto to professional ballet companies, attended Ivy League Universities, and other professions with in the field of dance as well as other professions that thru pre-professional training provided gave them a focused determination to achieve.
We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to teach students and be a part of their development not only in the professional field of our art form,but as well as being a part of their lives as they have moved onto their future goals.
It is our passion and privilege to teach and continue this great tradition of classical ballet training for future generations.