Maria Yakovleva First Soloist of the Wiener Staatsballett Dance Open: 2016

She was born in St. Petersburg. In 2004 she graduated from the Vaganova Academy and joined the Mariinsky Ballet. In one year she was invited to join the Wiener Staatsoper, where she became first soloist in 2010. She is performing the leading roles in classical ballets, such as the roles of Kitri, Aurora, Nikia and Odette. She regularly participates in international ballet festivals and gala concerts. Ballet lovers from Beijing to Vienna adore her. Critics praise her grace, saying that she is as light as a feather. However, Maria herself tells that the secret of her manner to perform lies in putting the soul into dance.

Gary Avis Principal Character Artist of the Royal Ballet Dance Open: 2016

Described as one of the greatest dance actors in the history of British dance, Gary Avis is Ballet Master and Principal Character Artist at The Royal Ballet Company with an international career spanning three decades. Born in Ipswich, he joined The Royal Ballet in 1989 and has played leading roles in dozens of productions. His repertory includes Drosselmeyer (The Nutcracker,) Von Rothbart (Swan Lake), Tybalt, Lord Capulet (Romeo and Juliet), Monsieur G.M., Gaoler (Manon) Step-Sister (Cinderella), Duchess (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) and many more. He has created roles and received universal critical acclaim for his work with choreographers including MacMillan, Tharp, Tetley, Morris, Hynd, Bruce, Wheeldon, Tuckett, Bintley, Page and Marriott. He co-founded K Ballet, Japan, and has performed with English National Ballet. In 2011 he received an Honorary Doctorate from University Campus Suffolk and was awarded the Critics Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Performance Classical. He partnered Darcey Bussell in her farewell performance with the Royal Ballet broadcast live from the Royal Opera House in 2007, he was a special guest and Darcey's partner in Viva la Diva Arena Tour UK, on Strictly Come Dancing and at the London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony. In 2015, he partnered the world renowned ballerina Alessandra Ferri in the critically acclaimed World Premiere of Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Úrsula López Ursula López Ballet Dance Open: 2016

Born in Montilla (Córdoba), she began her academic formation at a very young age, graduating both in classical Spanish dance and ballet and soon traveled to Seville to pursue her studies in the discipline of flamenco with great masters such as Manolete and Manolo Marín, being the latter one who initiated her in her professional career in the opera Carmen under the direction of Carlos Saura. In 1996 she became a member of the Compañía Andaluza de Danza, where she remained during eight years. She participated as a soloist in all the performances, traveling through the world´s main festivals and theaters. In November of 2004 Ursula became a guest artist of the “Ballet Nacional de España” where she remained until 2006, touring during this time the show “La Leyenda” and “Café de Chinitas” under the direction of Jose Antonio Ruiz. In 2007 Ursula started her own company and released her first work “Abriendo Camino” for the 2007 Flamenco Festival of Jerez. Her productions received numerous awards. Besides touring in different countries, Ursula is giving workshops all over the world not to mention in “Flamencodanza Studio”, her own school in Seville.

Ruslan Skvortsov Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi Theater Dance Open: 2016

He graduated from the Moscow Choreography Academy in 1998 and joined the Bolshoi Ballet the same year. In 2000 he received the 3rd prize at the International Ballet Competition and in 2011 he won the Soul of Dance Award. Critics, who praise his manner of dance, point out at the nobility in his movements. He has an impressive repertoire with roles in both classic and modern productions of Bolshoi and it seems that it is only Don Quixote and Spartacus where he has not starred yet. His favourite role is that of Count Albrecht in Giselle: “I have always enjoyed acting on stage, not just making some mechanical movements. I am very musical by nature and when I hear beautiful music I can fill my body with it”.