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    1. Zurich Dance Academy
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    Dance Teachers

    • Ivan Dinev
    • Christina Gehrig
    • Tina Goldin
    • Arlette Kunz
    • Roberta Martins
    • Christopher Powney
    • Àkos Sebestyén
    • Risa Yajima-Boisnon

    Ivan Dinev

    Classical Dance, Pas de Deux, Body Conditioning

    « I would like to teach my students honesty and the importance of hard work and discipline. In addition I tell them to always keep a positive attitude toward themselves and the world.”

    Nationality Bulgaria
    Education
    Sofia State Dance Academy, Bulgaria
    Engagements
    Czech National Ballet
    Scottish Ballet
    English National Ballet
    English National Ballet School
    Awards
    Silver medal, New York International Ballet Competition, 1996
    Gold medal, National Bulgarian Competitions, 1992
    Honour Award, International Ballet Competition Varna, 1992
    At taZ since 2015

    image: portrait of Ivan Dinev

      Christina Gehrig

      Creative Expression,  Improvisation & Composition

      "I wish that our taZ students discover their creative potential through improvisation, with joy, passion and curiosity. That they find their personal language in dance and are able to assert themselves in the world as strong artists."

      Nationality Switzerland
      Education
      Dance/dance education/ choreography, Codarts Rotterdam
      Engagements
      Dancer and performer at various international productions, among them: Swiss + sexy, Oona Project, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee Zurich; Streamextreme, Hideto Heshiki – Tanzhaus Zurich; Heaven, Tin Box Company Arhus, Kopenhagen
      Choreographer for various international productions, among them: LessMess, Tanzhaus Zurich/ Machol Shalem Festival Jerusalem/Tel Aviv; Tiefenrausch, Lantaren Fenster, Rotterdam, Tour in NL; Peninsulae,Theater Korzo Den Haag
      Scholarships & Awards
      Cultural award, div. Dance, City of Zurich, 2008; artist laboratory CH & NRW, Dusseldorf, 2004; Choreographer at SiWiC Zurich, 2003; Dutch Award of the Prince-Bernhard Fonds, 2000    
      Further experience
      Guest lecturer, ZHdK Zurich; ance educator at various national and international institutions; co-founder, «Echt stark» dance projects for the Schule/Schule & Kultur Zürich/Schukulu Luzern; dance education team, dance festival “Steps”
      At taZ since 2009

      Christina Gehrig

      Tina Goldin

      Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Repertoire

      "It is my goal in life to pass on my own knowledge and experiences. I hope to be a role model for our students, perhaps also give them some orientation for their future lives."

      Nationality Russia
      Education
      Perm Opera Ballet Theater, Russia
      Moscow State Academy of Choreography, diploma as ballet master and instructor
      Engagements / Positions
      Dancer:

      Tscheljabinsk Opera House, Russia
      Ballett Yevgeny Panfilov, Perm, Russia
      Israel Ballett, Tel Aviv
      Stadt Theater Bonn (Guest)
      Stadt Theater Trier
      Ballet instructor:
      State Ballet School, Perm, Russia
      Methodical coaching for instructors, seminars in Italy and Israel.
      At taZ since 2007

      Image: portrait of Tina Goldin

      Arlette Kunz

      Contemporary Dance, Graham, Improvisation

      «I would like to show our students, that each movement always has to spring from a strong inner motivation. Dancer personalities need a clear focus paired with curiosity, passion, courage and resilience. »

      Nationality Switzerland
      Education
      CH-Tanztheater Zurich
      London Contemporary Dance School
      Engagements / Jobs
      CH-Tanztheater Zurich
      Arc Dance Company London
      Ventura Dance Company, London, Madrid, Zurich
      Other experience
      Project management, Ventura Dance Company
      Costume design, Ventura Dance Company
      Artistic director, GAB, ABO, K&S JP & OC / Tanzwerk 101
      At taZ since 2003

      Arlette Kunz

        Roberta Martins

        Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Classical Repertoire

        “Everything our students learn will be the base for their future as a dancer and as a person. I want to inspire them to cherish every moment spent dancing.”

        Nationality Brasil
        Education
        Ballet School Opera Leipzig
        Engagements
        Soloist at: Leipzig Ballet; Volkstheater Rostock; Anhaltisches Theater Dessau; Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe; National Ballet of Portugal; Ballet Zurich; West Australian Ballet
        Choreography
        Ballet Zurich, «Romance für Alice Herz-Sommer»
        Accomplishments
        Stipend, Royal Academy of Dance, Winter Course
        Stipend, Leipzig Ballet School
        Bronze, V International Wettbewerb Brasil
        At taZ since 2015

        Roberta Martins

          Christopher Powney

          Teacher in residence until summer 2025
          Classical Dance, Variations, Pas de Deux

          “I look forward to returning to the studio and to teach a new generation of talented students from the ZHdK, working with them to build strong foundations technically and artistically. My hope is to ignite their curiosity in the learning process, encouraging them as confident, versatile artists ready for the profession.”

          Nationality
          British
          Education
          Alumni, Windsor Leadership Programme 
          Harvard Leadership (short course) 
          Diploma in Dance, Middlesex University 
          Diploma in Professional Dance teaching, The Royal Ballet School 
          Engagements / Jobs
          Artistic Director & CEO, The Royal Ballet School, London
          Artistic Director, Nationale Ballet Academie, Amsterdam 
          Artistic Director, Dutch National Ballet Academy, Netherlands
          Graduate Teacher, Royal Conservatoire, Netherlands
          Teacher, The Royal Ballet Upper School, United Kingdom
          Assistant Artistic Director, Central School of Ballet’s graduate touring company
          Accomplishments
          Co-founded The Dutch National Ballet Junior Company 
          Managed the Dutch National Ballet Academy into the Prix de Lausanne Partnership programme
          Launched the inaugural aDvANCE conference, bringing together international directors to address dance cultural challenges 
          Olivier Award, shared with dancers of Rambert Dance Company
          At taZ 
          for the school year 2024/2025

          Christopher Powney

            Àkos Sebestyén

            Classical Dance, Pas de deus, Repertoire, Body Conditioning, preparation for competitions

            “Through dance, I have experienced many beautiful moments – on and off-stage. I hope to pass on this passion for dance to my students.”

            Nationality Hungary
            Education
            Hungarian State Ballet School
            Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg
            Master of Advanced Studies in Dance Education, focus on Classical Ballet, ZHdK Zurich
            Engagements / Jobs
            Györi Ballet
            State Opera Vienna
            Soloist, Ballett Zurich
            Accomplishments
            Scholarship, Vaganova Ballet Academy, 1991
            Choreograph, “Feelings” for the Young Choreographers, Zurich Opera House
            Choreograph, taZ summer performance “fussspuren” – “Und dann und wann eine Lilie weiss ...”
            Jury member and guest instructor at various competitions, companies, and schools.
            At taZ since 2009

            Picture: Portrait of Akos Sebestyen

              Risa Yajima-Boisnon

              Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Repertoire

              "I would like to teach to my students the classical step material and its meaning. Once they know these basics by heart, they will gain so much freedom for their personal artistic development. "

              Nationality German
              Education
              Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Cologne
              Royal Ballet School London
              Ballettschule des Hamburg Ballett
              Dance Education, Nachdiplom FH, Classical Dance, Zurich
              Master of Advanced Studies ZFH in Dance Education, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
              Engagements
              Theater Bonn
              Deutsche Oper am Rhein
              Royal Ballet of Flanders
              Solistin, Ballett der Sächsischen Staatsoper Dresden
              Leipzig Ballet
              Zurich Ballet 
              Further experience
              Guest instructor at various companies, schools and courses
              2010 preparation, Prix de Lausanne
              Guest ballet master for Alexei Ratmansky`s Rekonstruktion Schwanensee (students)
              At taZ since 2022

              Image: Portrait of Risa Yajima-Boisnon