SPRING EDITION
February/March 2025
The Akhmedova Ballet Magazine is a product of the collaborative efforts of the students of the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. We wish to spread our ideas and knowledge, and connect with other dance communities.
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WITH THE STUDENTS OF ABA
HOW DO THE ARTS IMPACT YOUR LIFE?
Since the 19th century, classical ballets have incorporated characters, costumes, props, and gestures inspired by diverse cultures to set the scene for their stories. Whether it be Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences displayed in Le Corsaire or Asian-inspired themes in The Nutcracker and La Bayadère, audiences witness portrayals of various cultures, gaining a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the traditions they represent. The arts serve as a dominant form of communication, education, and entertainment. Through the combination of movement, music, and expression, this language impacts those who perform it and the audiences who take the time to appreciate it.
Lucy
The arts, in our case dance, are like the soul of society and have an enormous impact on our lives.
Cultural Identity: Dance preserves and celebrates cultural traditions, passing them down through generations and keeping their heritage alive. It allows individuals to express their unique backgrounds while connecting with others who share similar roots. Through dance, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for my own culture and the diverse traditions of others.
Education: Learning dance enhances discipline, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in all areas of life. It teaches history and cultural significance, giving insight into the traditions and movements of different societies. Dance has helped me develop confidence, teamwork, and perseverance through practice and performance.
Mental health: Dancing serves as an emotional outlet, helping me release stress and process my feelings in a healthy way. Dance gives me an outlet to express emotions that I struggle to put into words, and allowing myself to process my feelings in a unique way. Expressing myself through dance has given me a sense of purpose and joy during difficult times.
Community: Dance brings people together, creating a sense of belonging and shared experience. It fosters collaboration and communication, strengthening relationships among dancers and audiences alike. Through dance, I’ve built friendships and connected with people from different backgrounds.
Innovation: Dance constantly evolves, blending styles and techniques to create new forms of artistic expression. It inspires creativity by pushing boundaries and encouraging dancers to experiment with movement. The fusion of traditional and contemporary styles in dance encourages fresh perspectives and drives the evolution of the art form.
Economic Impact: Dance supports local economies through the production of local and traveling performances, as well as employment opportunities in the arts industry. It attracts tourism, bringing revenue to cities that host festivals, competitions, and cultural events. Many professionals, from choreographers to costume designers, rely on dance as a source of income and career fulfillment.
Isabelle
In conclusion, ballet isn't just about pink tutus and pretty pointe shoes. It's about strength, focus, discipline, expression, and community. It's made me a stronger, more confident, and happier person. And that's pretty amazing.
Miya
AUDITION EXPERIENCE
As a graduating senior this year, I have had the privilege of getting to experience the company audition process. From creating the list of companies to filming technique and repertoire videos to actually attending the live auditions, the entire process has been both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Every step has required meticulous preparation, from ensuring my videos showcased both my strengths and versatility to researching each company’s unique style and repertoire. The anticipation of submitting applications was quickly followed by the reality of traveling to various audition locations, stepping into studios filled with talented dancers, all vying for a limited number of spots.
After receiving an invitation, auditions can take various formats, typically structured as either an open audition or a private class audition. The “open audition” consists of a technique class, where dozens of dancers gather into one studio, all hoping to stand out in front of the artistic team. These auditions move swiftly and are quite intense, definitely requiring the ability to adapt to unfamiliar combinations and styles. I enjoyed this type of challenging environment, though, because it pushed me to dance with greater confidence. In contrast, private auditions are often taken with the company and offer a more intimate setting, where directors and ballet masters pay closer attention to individual artistry, work ethic, and how well a dancer blends into the company’s aesthetic. Though I felt added pressure to perform at my best, I appreciated these auditions as opportunities to focus on my dancing rather than the competition around me. Regardless of the format, every audition has tested my ability to remain composed and adaptable. Every day is a work in progress, and I am eager to continuously navigate this process with resilience, confidence, and an open mind.
Lucy
WITH LUCY AND JULIANA
Preparing for audition season as a ballet dancer is a demanding yet rewarding process that requires strategic planning and unwavering dedication.
This year, I embarked on the exciting yet intense journey of auditioning for professional ballet companies. With audition season spanning only a few months, the window to submit applications and materials is brief, making organization and preparation critical.
I began by meeting with my teachers to align our goals and strategies for the season. Together, we created a comprehensive list of companies I would apply to, tracking each interaction and noting every response to my emails.
A crucial part of the process was creating my audition tape. My teachers choreographed and filmed a class tailored to highlight my technical abilities, as many companies require a class video to evaluate a dancer's proficiency. Additionally, we compiled and edited performance footage to showcase my stage presence and artistry. I also prepared a resume and had letters of recommendation ready if needed. Once the videos were finalized, I drafted polished emails to accompany them, including my resume, dance photographs, and the video links as attachments. Each email was personalized for the company it was sent to, reflecting my genuine interest and professionalism.
After submitting my materials, I promptly informed my teachers of any responses, particularly invitations for in-person auditions. Together, we determined the optimal times and locations for me to attend, ensuring that I was prepared both logistically and artistically.
Audition season is undoubtedly a challenging time, with its tight deadlines and high stakes. However, with the invaluable support and guidance of my teachers, it has also been an enriching experience. Their expertise, dedication, and belief in my potential have not only eased the stress but have also made this journey a profoundly positive learning experience. I trust their judgment wholeheartedly and am deeply grateful for their commitment to nurturing their students’ futures.
Juliana
IN THE COMMUNITY
WITH ELIANA, CHARLOTTE, ISABELLE, SHIQI AND EMMA
MLK Celebration at Strathmore Music Center - Eliana
One of the great performance opportunities that Akhmedova Ballet Academy was able to take part in was the Annual MLK day tribute and celebration at Strathmore. This show was a special tribute to MLK’s three bridges, Hope, Injustice, and Resistance. These bridges were represented and the commemoration of Dr. King's work and his life through dance, storytelling, singing, and more.
ABA had the privilege of performing The Three Bridges of Hope choreographed by Jessica Novakovich. This piece represented the injustice and resistance of the first two bridges and Dr. King's struggle. The second part of the piece showed the hope and the peace that emerged from the struggles of injustice.
During our time at Strathmore, we were able to see other performances and what they had to offer for this event. Everyone performed wonderfully and were able to contribute to the remembrance of Dr. King. When performing, the audience was so supportive and we were also supported by the people and other groups backstage. The stage at Strathmore is so beautiful and I appreciate the opportunity to perform at the theater during this performance. The atmosphere is uplifting and works to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of hope alive.
I am so grateful for the experience and hope to return to perform during this show in the future. Dr. King said in his I Have A Dream speech, “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” We have a duty to keep his faith and keep his dream a reality.
Peter & the Wolf at the Black Box Theatre - Charlotte
The Akhmedova Ballet Academy had a unique opportunity, this past February, to perform an encore presentation of the famed classic “Peter and The Wolf”; choreographed by Ms. Jessica Novakovich. This time the academy performed at the Silver Spring Black Box Theater - in front of a small, intimate audience.
Peter and The Wolf was originally created as a symphonic tale for children in 1936 by musical composer, Sergei Prokofiev. Each character in the story is represented by an instrument in the orchestra. The Bird – a flute, the Duck – an oboe, the Cat – a clarinet, the Wolf – a French horn, the grandfather – a bassoon, the Hunters – a kettle drum and Peter – a violin. The story follows a young boy named Peter and his adventures with his animal friends Sonia, Ivan, and Sasha as they bravely work together to capture the evil wolf from persecuting the forest animals.
Being in the Black Box Theater presented its own unique advantage to get up close and personal with the audience. As a dancer, I am always seeking opportunities to engage with the audience and become the character I am playing. Performing at the Black Box theater allowed me to connect with the audience and feed off of their energy. I believe this made the performance all the more exciting for the cast and the audience alike. Because of the intimate setting, we were able to engage in a lively exchange/question and answer time with young audience members. It’s always fun to hear the questions from the children and learn how much they love the performance. I look forward to future performances at The Black Box Theater.
B&O Open House outreach - Isabelle
In February, I participated in an outreach event with the B&O for Peter and the Wolf. It was both an exciting and nerve-racking experience, as it was my first-time taking part in an event like this. Despite my initial uncertainty, it proved to be rewarding, allowing me to engage with the community through performance. During the event, we presented an excerpt from the show, offering the audience a preview of the story and its characters. Following the performance, Ms. Jessica read the book Peter and the Wolf while the other girls and I acted out our roles. This interactive approach enhanced the experience for both the audience and performers, making the storytelling more immersive. Seeing the audience watch attentively and follow along with the story was especially gratifying, as it reinforced the power of live performance in capturing attention and sparking imagination. It was fulfilling to know that our efforts helped bring the story to life in a unique and engaging way.
One of the most memorable aspects of this event was the opportunity to connect with the audience, particularly the younger children. Many of them were experiencing the story for the first time, and it was rewarding to see them engaged as they followed along with the characters. While I initially felt nervous about performing in this setting, the encouragement from my fellow performers and the positive energy from the event helped me feel at ease. I also gained a newfound appreciation for the teamwork involved in bringing a production to life outside of a traditional theater setting. Performing in an outreach event required adaptability, as we had to adjust to the space and ensure that our storytelling remained clear and engaging. These challenges ultimately strengthened my confidence as a performer and made the experience even more rewarding.
This event reaffirmed my appreciation for performance and the role it plays in bringing people together. It highlighted the value of community engagement and demonstrated how the arts can serve as a powerful tool for connection and storytelling. I am grateful for the opportunity and hope to engage in similar events in the future.
World Bazaar at the Civic Building - Shiqi
The around the world bazaar at the Silver Spring Civic Center is a remarkable event designed to celebrate the beauty of dance in many different styles of dance around the world. On February 28th, we performed solos and ensemble pieces at the Civic Center. This was a public event and people came to watch. Backstage was a lot of costume changes and it was very busy. I performed my classical variation, “Fairy Vitality” from the ballet Sleeping Beauty and my contemporary solo, “The moon wears a white shirt”. The event featured dance and music performances, and people selling their craft and handmade creations on table stands. After our performing was a group of Indian dancers performing their style of dance. It was a very nice event where different people and cultures came together to show their different heritage. Overall, it was a great experience and I very much enjoyed performing.
Meet the Dancers - In Studio Demonstration - Emma
On March 22nd, the Akhmedova Ballet Academy held an inspiring in-studio demonstration, offering family, friends, and supporters an exclusive preview of our upcoming spring performance in May. This event provided a unique opportunity for our audience to witness the progress we have made throughout the season and experience firsthand the dedication and artistry we bring to the stage from our studio.
The showcase featured a diverse repertoire, highlighting both classical and contemporary works. One of the standout moments of the performance was an excerpt from our newest choreography, “Pictures at an Exhibition”, choreographed by our outstanding teacher and choreographer Jessica Novakovich. This choreography, which is rich in expression and musicality, allowed us to explore new movement styles while pushing our artistic and technical boundaries. Additionally, we performed a small section of “Dance of the Hours”, a vibrant and intricate ballet that showcases both grace and precision. We are fortunate that Madame Akhmedova, our Artistic Director, has precisely and attentively choreographed this beautiful piece for us.
In addition to these pieces, we presented several classical, contemporary, and character dances that we have been diligently refining throughout the year. These works represent the versatility and strength of our training, demonstrating our ability to seamlessly transition between different styles and techniques. The classical variations demanded precision, control, and elegance, while the contemporary pieces challenged us to express deeper emotions and explore fluid, dynamic movement. Our character dances, full of energy and personality, added a lively contrast, bringing a sense of storytelling and cultural richness to the program. I was very thrilled to be able to perform my contemporary solo “Encanta”. This piece allows me to explore a deeper level of emotional expression and movement quality. The choreography challenges me both technically and artistically, pushing me to convey the music’s intensity and nuance through every step. Performing it during the in-studio demonstration was an incredibly rewarding experience, as I had the opportunity to share my interpretation with the audience in an intimate setting. I am excited to continue refining this solo and bringing even more depth to my performance as the season progresses.
This in-studio demonstration was not only a chance for us to perform but also an invaluable learning experience. Showcasing our pieces in such an up-close setting allowed us to fine-tune our stage presence, connect with the audience on a more personal level, and gain confidence before the bigger performances and competitions ahead. It was incredibly rewarding to share our progress and hard work with those who support us, and the positive energy in the studio was truly uplifting.
As we continue preparing for our Spring Gala Performance and upcoming events, this demonstration served as both motivation and inspiration. We are eager to bring these pieces to the stage, delivering a performance that reflects our passion, commitment, and artistic growth throughout the season.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
WITH ELAINE
August 4th, 1873 --- Russian artist Viktor Hartmann dies very suddenly from an aneurysm at only 39 years old, leaving the rest of the Russian art world in shock and devastation; yet, from this despair soon sprouted creation. Composer Modest Mussorgsky, wanting to preserve and commemorate Hartmann’s works, was moved to compose a musical suite recognizing various works he had previously seen at some of Hartmann’s exhibitions. This ten-movement piano composition, Pictures at an Exhibition, eventually became known as one of Mussorgsky’s greatest works, and goes on to be orchestrated, rearranged and re-represented in numerous ways by artists from all different time periods and places. Particularly, the orchestration of this suite by French composer Maurice Ravel inspired the first portion of ABA’s Spring show this year: our very own production of Pictures at an Exhibition.
From choosing our own paintings to choreographing the dances that bring them to life, our production of Pictures at an Exhibition has been challenging, unique, and once again quite unlike anything we have ever done. Under the guidance and vision of our choreographer and teacher, Ms. Jessica Novakovich, as well as all of our other teachers and artistic director Mme. Akhmedova, the suite is made into a story, told by each dancer. Following the experiences of an aspiring young artist named Christina, Pictures at an Exhibition vividly blends reality with imagination as Christina seems to enter each painting, blurring the boundaries of the picture frames as she watches and interacts with the subjects in each. For each of the ten movements of the orchestral suite, ten paintings were chosen, all from different eras with different styles:
The Scream (1893) by Edvard Munch, representing mvt. 1,
The Ballet Class (1875) by Edgar Degas, representing mvt. 2,
Sunflower Fields of Ukraine (2024) by Elena Yarovaya, representing mvt. 3,
The Persistence of Memory (1931) by Salvador Dalí, representing mvt. 4,
Starry Night (1889) by Vincent van Gogh, representing mvt. 5,
Two Sisters (1881) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, representing mvt. 6,
Death and Life (1908) by Gustav Klimt, representing mvt. 7,
Primavera (1478) by Sandro Botticelli, representing mvt. 8,
The Swan Princess (1900) by Mikhail Vrubel, representing mvt. 9,
Christina’s World (1948) by Andrew Wyeth, representing mvt. 10 along with other paintings.
As Christina watches these paintings, she fills her sketchbook with the sketches of the characters she sees, until both her sketchbook and her passion overflow with ideas and inspiration, influencing her to pursue her dreams as an artist. The choreographies of each piece consist of a wide variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, character, and combinations of each. To further bring the paintings to life, ABA is currently incorporating various costumes and props that correspond to elements in each painting. Additionally, the centerpiece props that our production will showcase are two large painting frames, representing the world in which the characters reside and in which Christina is entranced.
Following the traditions of previous spring shows, subsequent to our main production is a shorter, purely classical ballet piece selection. This year, we have taken on Dance of the Hours, a ballet featured in the finale of the opera La Giaconda, with music by Italian composer Amilcare Ponchielli. Presented in three general sections, including an introduction, adagio, and coda, the ballet follows the hours of the day, representing dawn, noon, evening and night. The various aspects of the ballet allude to symbols of clocks, time, and the hues of color visible throughout the day. The Dance of the Hours is choreographed by our Artistic Director Mme Akhmedova and is categorized into the second act of our spring gala, which will also include other classical pieces such as a quartet from the ballet La Esmeralda, and a new group piece called Tritsch-Tratsch Polka with music by Johann Strauss II.
Once again, a contrasting selection of contemporary and character pieces will conclude our spring show, in our final third act. Consisting of nothing less than the best of our repertoire developed over the course of the school year, the third act showcases solos, duets, and ensembles both old and new. Choreographed to represent concepts inspired by everything from novels to nature and conflict to cultures, our act three creations showcase narratives and stories from everywhere in the world around us. All of our hard work will be displayed in our performances on May 17th at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, and it would be our greatest honor to take you along with us into the fascinating world we’ll paint together.
Amelia Hillman - ABA graduate
Dancer with Ballet Des Moines
Photo credits: Ryan Morrison
Ask the Artistic Director
With Mme. Akhmedova
Each pirouette and grand jeté carries the weight of years of tradition and a bold leap into the future of dance!
The arts are the heartbeat of humanity—a vibrant tapestry that connects us to our deepest emotions, our cultural heritage, and to one another. They reflect who we are, transcending boundaries and languages, speaking directly to the soul. Among the arts, ballet stands as a uniquely profound expression. It is a combination of discipline and grace, an ode to human potential, and a celebration of beauty in motion. Ballet captures the power of storytelling without words, conveying narratives that resonate with audiences on an almost primal level.
At Akhmedova Ballet Academy, the art of ballet reaches its apex, embodying a commitment to excellence and innovation. Here, ballet is not just a skill; it is a transformative journey. Through the Academy's dedication to the Vaganova method, young dancers are not only trained to master technical precision but also to channel their emotions, their individuality, into every performance. Each pirouette and grand jeté carries the weight of years of tradition and a bold leap into the future of dance.
The Academy fosters an environment where the arts are celebrated as indispensable to personal and cultural growth. Beyond technique, it nurtures creativity, resilience, and self-expression in every dancer, preparing them to impact the world in ways that transcend the stage. The arts—and ballet in particular—are a gift to society, offering solace, inspiration, and a mirror to our shared humanity. The Akhmedova Ballet Academy stands as a beacon, reminding us all of the unparalleled importance of preserving and promoting the arts. It is a haven where dreams take flight, and where the enduring power of ballet continues to captivate and enrich lives.
Mme. Akhmedova