Lev Vladimirovich Assaouliak graduated from Perm State Choreographic Institute and embarked on a twenty-year career as an international soloist.  He was a laureate at the Varna International Ballet Competition and holds the title Honored Artist of the Russian Republic.  As a teacher and ballet master, Mr. Assaouliak has worked with major ballet companies across the former U.S.S.R.  He was ballet master of the prestigious Russian State Theatre of Classical Ballet, which performs in the Palace of Congresses within the walls of the Kremlin in Moscow.  Vasiliev and Kasathikina, legendary dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet, headed the company.  In 1996, Mr. Assaouliak became ballet master of the Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware and is currently Assistant Artistic Director of the First State Ballet Theatre.

Kristina Kambalov was born in Evansville, Indiana and, at the age of nine, began studying ballet with Jean Allenby. She continued her studies at North Carolina School of the Arts and at the Joffrey Ballet School and danced with Ballet Theatre Pennsylvania and Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware.

In 1999, Ms. Kambalov co-founded First State Ballet Theatre. Under her direction, the School of First State Ballet Theatre has built an extraordinary record of achievement. Students of the school have attended and received scholarships to some of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world and have been accepted to compete in Prix de Lausanne, World Ballet Competition, American Ballet Competition, and Youth American Grand Prix. Students of the school have gone on to dance with Festival Ballet of Rhode Island, Alabama Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and First State Ballet Theatre. In 2007, FSBT students were invited to perform at the 50th Anniversary Gala di Danza in Italy’s Spoleto Festival dei Du Mondi.

In 2006, Ms. Kambalov received the Wilmingtonian Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wilmington.

Ms. Kambalov’s philosophy is to teach every student as though he or she has the potential to be a professional dancer. She says, “I know they won’t all end up dancing professionally, but what they learn from their dance training—discipline, team work, confidence, the joy of attaining goals—will carry over to whatever they choose to do in life.”

Kelly Diamond has been dancing as long as she can remember and studied under Patricia Lovie at Southern New Hampshire Youth Ballet before leaving her native state to study drawing and painting at Fordham University.  While in New York, Kelly trained at Steps on Broadway, danced with Akjun Ballet Theatre, and was a trainee with Albany Berkshire Ballet, touring with its Nutcracker group.  She participated in summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre, Orlando Ballet, Walnut Hill School, and CPYB, and was company trainee at Richmond Ballet from 2007 to 2009.  A practitioner of Bikram yoga, Kelly also teaches ballet and is a certified Pilates instructor. 

Katharine Nace grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she began taking ballet at age three.  She studied at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Weary for thirteen years before leaving to attend SUNY Purchase, where she received Martha Graham training.  Eventually, Katharine transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University to study under Jerri Kumery and graduated in May 2009.  She was a trainee with Richmond Ballet from 2006 to 2009 and performed four musicals with Theatre West Virginia in the summer of 2009.  When she’s not dancing, Katharine loves to write poetry and to listen to classic rock and heavy metal.

Alex Buckner’s early interest in musical theater led him to study dance, and he became serious about ballet at age twelve.  A native of Las Vegas, he studied at the Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts and graduated from the Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg.  He participated in Julliard’s summer program and danced under Stoner Winslet at Richmond Ballet from 2005 to 2009, as a trainee and a company apprentice.  Alex plays drums and video games and would love someday to dance Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pasha Kambalov was born in Russia. He began studying ballet at age eight at the Perm State Choreographic School, and, at age thirteen, he continued his studies at the world-renowned Vaganova School in St. Petersburg. At just sixteen-years old, he danced the role of the Prince in the full-length Nutracker with famed ballerina Larissa Lezhnina to a sold-out show at the legendary Mariinsky Theatre. Upon graduating, Mr. Kambalov danced with the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theater in the Ukraine, National Ballet of Komi in Russia, New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Theater Pennsylvania, and Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware.

He has performed leading roles in nearly all of the great classical ballets, including Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as in the works of such contemporary choreographers as Robert La Fosse, Leslie Brown, Gerald Arpino, and Daniel Baudendistel. Mr. Kambalov also performed as a guest artist with “Stars of the American Ballet,” Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan, National Ballet of New Jersey, and many other companies.

In 1999, he co-founded First State Ballet Theatre for which he directed acclaimed performances of many classical and contemporary ballets, and in 2004, he founded Arabesque, Wilmington’s international ballet festival. He received the Wilmingtonian Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wilmington in 2006, and, in that same year, was recognized for his teaching by the National Foundation for Advancement in Arts.

Mr. Kambalov is honored to bring the power and beauty of professional ballet to the rich cultural life of the state of Delaware and of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Andrew Delaney is a native of Texas. He was introduced to ballet at the age of three, when he saw Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker in Jones Hall and decided that was what he wanted to do. He began classes at the Woodlands Dance Academy a few months later.  Since moving to Delaware with his family, he has studied at FSBT and performed in productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and Don Quixote. When he is not dancing he enjoys mountain biking, playing soccer with his friends, and listening to all kinds of music.

Aubrey Lynne Clemens grew up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the second youngest of five children.  Before coming to FSBT, Aubrey studied many forms of dance at Longwood Performing Arts and at the MacAleer School of Irish Dance. She has attended summer intensives at Stiefel and Students, American Ballet Theater, and the Kirov Academy, and her awards include a top 12 spot in the 2004 YAGP Pre-competitive World Finals, a gold medal in the Preparatory Division of the 2004 USA National Ballet Competition, and a 2006 James Jamieson Scholarship. In 2007, she was invited to perform at the 50th anniversary Gala di Danza in Italy’s Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi. Aubrey loves to read and listen to music, especially jazz standards by Frank Sinatra and Harry Conick, Jr.

Brittany Ross grew up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and was introduced to ballet through her training as a gymnast. She has attended summer intensives at Kirov Academy, School of American Ballet, Kaatsbaan, Steifel and Stars, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Harid Conservatory and has earned many honors in YAGP and other competitions here in the United States. In addition, she was one of two American women invited to compete in the 2008 Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. Brittany’s favorite ballets are Manon, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty.  When she is not dancing, she likes to listen to ‘80s rock and spend time with her friends.

Angela Zintchenko is from Leesburg, Virginia and decided to be a dancer at age twelve when she saw a performance of Giselle at the Kennedy Center.  She trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC and at Washington Ballet with Roudolf Kharatian as teacher and coach, and she attended summer intensives at Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Washington Ballet, Ballet Austin, and Richmond Ballet.  Her awards and scholarships include a National Youth Ballet Competition gold medal and an artistic scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet.  A self-described “chocoholic”, Angela also enjoys running and tennis.  In May 2009, Angela danced the exquisite pas de deux “Persephone” with Jake Allison in Viktor Plotnikov’s Everlasting Arms, a ballet inspired by the work of sculptor Charles Parks.

Emily Shenaut grew up in Davis, California and was inspired to be a dancer at age six, when she saw a performance of Nutcracker and fell in love with the Snow divertissement.  Emily began her studies in Sacramento, under Stuart Carroll and Sharon Newton, and she attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet, where she performed as a company trainee from 2006 to 2008.   She is working toward a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and loves playing with her cat Kisa.  Last season, Emily charmed audiences as Marie in FSBT’s Nutcracker.

Justin J. Estelle is from Clarendon, a small farming town in Vermont, where he began studying ballet at the age of three.  He went on to study at the National Ballet School of Canada and completed the American Ballet Theater’s summer intensive programs in both Michigan and New York City.  Justin won first and second prizes in the Grand Prix Chicago and participated in Richmond Ballet’s trainee program in 2007.  Justin is a video game whiz and an aspiring singer.  Justin riveted audiences as Jesus in Viktor Plotnikov’s Everlasting Arms, a ballet based on the works of sculptor Charles Parks.

Anna Carapellotti grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and began her training at the Atlanta Ballet.  At age sixteen, she moved with her parents and younger brother to Pittsburgh, where she continued her studies at the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet.  She has participated in summer intensives at Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet and performed with Richmond Ballet from 2005 to 2008.  When not dancing, Anna practices and competes in Bikram yoga. In spring 2009, Anna danced the breathtaking pas de deux “The Question” with Justin Estelle in Viktor Plotnikov’s Everlasting Arms, a ballet inspired by the work of sculptor Charles Parks

Jake Allison grew up in Muscatine, Iowa, population 30,000. At the age of sixteen, after being introduced to dance by Bruce Brown, Jake gave up football to study ballet. He continued his training with Mary Price Boday at Oklahoma City University, before coming to First State Ballet Theatre in early 2007.  Jake loves Charles Dickens, the History Channel, and is a devoted Iowa Hawkeyes football fan. Jake was thrilling as the Matador Espada in FSBT’s 2008 performance of Don Quixote.

Pasha Kambalov was born in Russia. He began studying ballet at age eight at the Perm State Choreographic School, and, at age thirteen, he continued his studies at the world-renowned Vaganova School in St. Petersburg. At just sixteen-years old, he danced the role of the Prince in the full-length Nutracker with famed ballerina Larissa Lezhnina to a sold-out show at the legendary Mariinsky Theatre. Upon graduating, Mr. Kambalov danced with the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theater in the Ukraine, National Ballet of Komi in Russia, New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Theater Pennsylvania, and Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware.

He has performed leading roles in nearly all of the great classical ballets, including Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as in the works of such contemporary choreographers as Robert La Fosse, Leslie Brown, Gerald Arpino, and Daniel Baudendistel. Mr. Kambalov also performed as a guest artist with “Stars of the American Ballet,” Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan, National Ballet of New Jersey, and many other companies.

In 1999, he co-founded First State Ballet Theatre for which he directed acclaimed performances of many classical and contemporary ballets, and in 2004, he founded Arabesque, Wilmington’s international ballet festival. He received the Wilmingtonian Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wilmington in 2006, and, in that same year, was recognized for his teaching by the National Foundation for Advancement in Arts.

Mr. Kambalov is honored to bring the power and beauty of professional ballet to the rich cultural life of the state of Delaware and of the Mid-Atlantic region.