-----The artistic director, Natasha Olenova Russo, has been in the United States for only three years and taught and performed extensively in Birmingham before opening her own dance school. Natasha began her formal dance training at the Ukrainian National School of Ballet at the age of four. From the age of four until sixteen, her dance studies consisted of creative movement, classical ballet and gymnastics. She became very interested in the theatre during her teenage years and was introduced to Russian Folk and Character Dance. This type of dance quickly became Natasha's favorite because it encompassed drama, strict discipline, agility and strength. Natasha began her University studies at the age of 16 and performed in two school dance groups, The University Ensemble Dance Team and The Ukrainian Folk Ensemble. She performed in Russia with these dance ensembles. The groups also traveled throughout France, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Malta, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland competing and performing.

-----The Natasha Russo Dance Academy is very proud of its international approach to dance. This is the only school in the Birmingham area to teach authentic Russian Character Dance. In addition to Russian Character, the school also offers classes in Flamenco and Spanish Character as well as the R.A.D. and the Russian Method Ballet. Because the school is a private dance school, each student is awarded extra attention that is so important in developing exceptional dancers. The school offers an excellent Creative Movement Program designed to stimulate children's interest in different musical and dance forms. The main focus of the enrichment program is "learning with pleasure." Children actively participate and learn dance terms in French. There is no pressure to perform, no tests, activities are group-oriented, and because of the teaching method and limited class size, each child receives individual attention. This enables children to cultivate their own individual expression. In addition to dance and creative movement, the school also addresses the needs of adults by providing classes to tone, stretch and strengthen in an atmosphere of support and friendship to beautiful music.

-----The Natasha Russo Dance Academy is very proud to add Rhonda Wharton to its regular teaching staff. Ms. Wharton will be teaching Ballet III on Tuesdays and Saturday. Ms. Wharton is a very accomplished dancer who teaches the Vaganova Method and is trained and will be teaching in the Balanchine Method as well. Ms. Wharton comes to the school with an impressive background including training at the School of American Ballet in New York, University of Alabama in Birmingham, and as a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

-----The School has enjoyed two workshops in classical ballet this year. Both have been taught by the very talented Tatiana Ledovskikh. Ms. Ledovskikh is a principal ballerina with the Alabama Ballet. She was formerly with the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia and performed principal roles in the major classical ballets with teh Bolshoi, as well as performing as a guest artist throughout Europe. Ms. Ledovskikh is the recipient of the Glinki State Award for outstanding achievement in the fine arts and she joined the Alabama Ballet company in 1997. Ms. Ledovskikh will be teaching additional classes at the Natasha Russo Dance Academy in the future.

-----Natasha also is available for private lessons, pageant preparation, choreography, and audition preparation. She is a very talented dancer with a real love of dance and of people. For the very best dance instruction, from the beginner through the professional, the Natasha Russo Dance Academy is the place to train.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws