First State Ballet Theatre Artistic Staff

Pavel Kambalov
Artistic Director

Mr. Kambalov is a graduate of the world-renowned Kirov School in St. Petersburg, Russia. He danced professionally 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 great classical ballets such as Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and others as well as the choreographic works of Robert LaFosse, Matthew Neenan, John Selvia, Gerald Arpino, Daniel Baudendistel and Leslie Browne. Mr. Kambalov also performed as a guest artist with "Stars of the American Ballet," Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan, Dance Theater of Pennsylvania, National Ballet of New Jersey, Philadelphia Ballet Theatre and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

In 1999 he co-founded the First State Ballet Theatre. Under his artistic direction, FSBT has presented acclaimed performances of major full-length ballets including Coppélia, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake Act III and Paquita and numerous mixed repertory performances. In 2004, Mr. Kambalov founded the Arabesque international festival of classical and contemporary ballet. Mr. Kambalov teaches intermediate and advanced level students at The School of First State Ballet Theatre. Mr. Kambalov was honored with the 2006 Wilmingtonian Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wilmington.
 
Kristina Kambalov
School Director

Ms. Kambalov began her training with Jean Allenby in her hometown of Evansville, Indiana. She continued her dance studies at North Carolina School of the Arts and the Joffrey Ballet School. She danced four seasons with Ballet Theater Pennsylvania before joining Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, where she danced soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote as well as the choreographic works of Robert LaFosse, Matthew Neenan, Daniel Baudendistel and Leslie Browne. Ms. Kambalov also performed with "Stars of the American Ballet," Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan and Philadelphia Ballet Theatre.

In 1999 she co-founded First State Ballet Theatre. Under her direction The School of First State Ballet Theater has built an extraordinary record of achievement. Students of The School of First State Ballet Theatre have attended and received scholarships to many of the most prestigious ballet schools in the U.S. including American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, School of American Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Universal Ballet Academy and Pacific Northwest Ballet. FSBT students have lauched professional careers with Alabama Ballet, Festival Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet , Richmond Ballet and Tulsa Ballet. Ms. Kambalov was honored with the 2006 Wilmingtonian Award for outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Wilmington.

Stefanie Caputo

Stefanie Caputo studied under Pasha and Kristina Kambalov at The School of First State Ballet Theatre School. She attended summer programs with Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Richmond Ballet. In 2002, she was one of the top 12 finalists in the senior division of the Youth America Grand Prix world finals in New York City. She has performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Ballet Theater of Maryland, where she was also a faculty member.

Lev Assouliak
Assistant Artistic Director
Lev Vladimirovich Assouliak graduated from the Perm State Choreographic Institute. He then embarked upon a 20-year career as an international soloist. Laureate of the Varna International Ballet Competition and many other honors followed. As a teacher and ballet master, Mr. Assouliak has worked with major ballet companies across the former USSR. He was the 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. The famous Russian dancers, Vasiliev and Kasathikina, whose careers at the Bolshoi are now legendary, were heads of the Company. In 1996, Mr. Assouliak became Ballet Master of the Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware. He is currently the Assistant Artistic Director of the First State Ballet Theatre.

Jake Allison

Tisa Della-Volpe

Aynsley Inglis