BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION
July/August/September 2025
The Akhmedova Ballet Magazine is a product of the collaborative efforts of the students of the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. We wish to spread our ideas and knowledge, and connect with other dance communities.
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A timeless tale of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, the ballet Giselle has remained for centuries as one of the most quintessential works of classical ballet. The story is set in a medieval German village, a place of feudal hierarchy, and tells the narrative of Giselle, a naive and kind-hearted peasant girl. She falls in love with a nobleman disguised as a peasant named Albrecht. Upon eventually discovering his true identity, as well as his engagement with another woman, Giselle dies tragically from madness and heartbreak. After death, Giselle becomes one of the Wilis: nocturnal, paranormal spirits of dead women who had been betrayed or heartbroken by past lovers. Although the Wilis typically seek revenge on their partners by capturing them in the night and forcing them to dance to their exhaustive death, Giselle chooses instead to act with forgiveness and saves Albrecht’s life by dancing with him until daybreak, when the Wilis retire.
The ballet’s history extends back to 1841, when it was first premiered in Paris, featuring Carlotta Grisi as Giselle and Lucien Petipa as Albrecht. Originally choreographed by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli, and composed by Adolphe Adam, the story of Giselle exhibits several characteristics that derive from the era of romanticism, which spanned across the early 19th century. During this time period, ballets commonly featured supernatural elements, forbidden love, the quest for redemption and emotional closure. A ballet of two acts, Giselle contrasts historical fiction with fantasy, creating an engaging and juxtaposing effect.
Giselle, despite having a weak heart, loves to dance; in the first act, when she is a normal peasant girl, she dances with, or for others many times. Recently, I have begun working on one of Giselle’s Act I variations, which has challenged me not only physically, but also stylistically and artistically. Giselle, a romantic ballet, generally uses softer, more delicate movements. Épaulement, the positioning of the arms and upper body, is used sensitively with enough consideration for structure and technical correctness; this is especially prominent in the beginning of the first act, where the variation is from. The role of Giselle is difficult because it is contradictive in many ways: expressivity, structure; gentleness, liveliness. Additionally, not only are there details associated with the ballet’s stylistic nuances, but with the interpretation of Giselle’s character as well. By incorporating effective emotional storytelling on top of style and technique, I believe this variation can truly be brought to life, but not without lots of hard work.
Over the course of the last summer and the beginning of this school year, I have worked on this variation substantially, with the guidance of my teachers. We especially spent a great deal of time working in detail on arm placement, as well as nuances in wrist movements, footwork, and orientation of the head. Expressing artistry while maintaining technique and held form is among the primary challenges that I faced. I began to pay more attention to my posture, presence, and poise, which I found to be beneficial in both technical and artistic areas. We also not only practiced the choreography itself but discussed the use of musicality in directing accents and emphases in dancing. It was also important for us, as with any variation, to understand the context/setting and to study existing interpretations. Together, we watched several interpretations of Giselle by esteemed ballet dancers, and I was surprised to observe the amount of variance that existed between each performance, even given all the standard principles and guidelines of the typical Giselle character. The more I learned, the more I understood the depth and sophistication of this role, and the more interesting it became to me! I am sure that this variation will help me grow into a more mature artist, and I look forward to continuing my work with this piece and eventually performing it. -Elaine
Giselle - Beneath the Tulle and Tragedy
WITH ELAINE
Some of my fondest memories at dance were made during summer intensive, meeting new people, getting personal feedback, and learning new variations and contemporary compositions. At the Akhmedova Ballet Academy summer intensive, the students bond together while taking ballet classes in the mornings, learning character and contemporary choreography, and finishing the day off with Pilates and conditioning. In addition to classes and conditioning, students are taught the history of dance and music and learn to make goals that will improve their technique throughout the intensive. ABA’s summer intensive is about establishing and preparing ourselves for the next school year, where we work on discipline to improve our technique and skills.
In morning ballet technique classes, we are given personal attention from teachers so that the student can develop a personal connection with the teacher and work to their fullest potential. This personal attention carries over when learning variations, which is one of my favorite parts of summer intensive because it helps me expand my repertoire and learn how to embody a new character. Learning variations with a group or individually with Mme. Akhmedova during summer intensive, helps me improve my technique and learn from my classmates on how to apply artistry to my own variations.
In the afternoon, we learn character and contemporary choreography from Ms. Jessica and Ms. Marina. In contemporary, we learn how to move in different ways utilizing the technique that we learned from ballet class. During contemporary class, I have learned to fully use my range of movements and show emotions through a different way of moving my body. Like contemporary, character uses a different style of dance to evoke emotions. In character, the dancer can show beauty through sometimes intricate, sharp, or lively movements to tell a story.
At the very end of the three-week summer intensive my classmates and I performed a class demonstration to showcase our improvement and hard work throughout the intensive. Along with demonstrating class work, we perform character dances, contemporary choreography, and the variations that were worked on throughout the intensive.
During summer intensive, I have made many new friends, improved my technique and emotions, and have built my character through hard work and discipline. I am so proud of the improvement I made throughout my many summer intensive experiences at ABA and am looking forward to my next summer. -Eliana
This summer, ABA’s intensive wasn’t just a series of classes it was the start of a transformative journey that pushed me and reminded me why I dance.
For six weeks, my mornings began with technique classes that focused on alignment and proper technique that will build a strong base. In the afternoons my range was expanded with classes in contemporary and character dancing. ABA created an environment of both rigor and warmth, challenging us to refine our skills while also encouraging personal expression.
One of the most memorable parts of the program was our ensemble work. Dancing in a group taught me more than choreography it was a lesson in trust, collaboration, and awareness. Learning to move as one with fellow dancers was like a masterclass in connection.
Throughout the intensive, we prepared for the final demonstration a showcase of everything we had learned. The large studio became our stage, and our families and teachers filled the audience to witness our growth. I performed a contemporary solo choreographed by Jessica Novakovich, and for the first time, I truly felt like I was telling a story through movement.
But my favorite part of the entire experience? The friendships. We came from different states, studios, and training backgrounds, yet we cheered each other on, rehearsed together, and celebrated every achievement as one.
This summer reminded me that intensives aren’t just about technique they’re about rediscovering the love of dance. I left with a renewed sense of purpose, and I can’t wait to do it all again next year. -Isabelle
INTO ABA’S INTENSIVES
WITH ELIANA AND ISABELLE
Recently, the Akhmedova Ballet Academy had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Wheaton Arts Parade in Montgomery County. This annual event is a vibrant celebration of arts and cultures, bringing together an enormous variety of performances, traditions, and creative displays. The ABA parents and dancers proudly walked in the parade, following our favorite walrus—an extraordinary and frivolous sculpture handmade by local artists and volunteers using hard-to-recycle materials. Together with the walrus, we filled the streets with joy and excitement, perfectly capturing the spirit of the day.
IN THE COMMUNITY
WITH EMMA
In addition to marching, we had the tremendous opportunity to showcase our exuberant and dazzling Tarantella. Our lively movements and radiant energy lit up the parade route, delighting the crowd and showcasing the Academy’s dedication to artistic excellence. The performance not only highlighted the dancers and teachers hard work and passion but also served as a reminder of how dance can bring people together, help us rejoice, and celebrate cultural diversity. For all of ABA, the Wheaton Arts Parade was more than just an event—it was a moment of connection, creativity, and joy shared with the community that we will forever cherish and hold close to our hearts. ~ Emma
ABA STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
WITH SOPHIA EVA, ELLIE, NIKKI AND SOPHIE
I chose to attend Akhmedova Ballet Academy's Professional Training Program because I knew that the elite training and intimate class settings would be essential in shaping me to become the dancer I've always dreamed of. Joining ABA has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and thrilling transitions of my dance journey. During my first week, I was challenged both physically and artistically in ways I didn't know were possible. This transition was a completely new experience for me, mainly because I had never trained under the Vagonava method before. There were so many new elements of the Vagonava method to learn, and contemporary skills that seemed almost impossible to do. But ABA quickly showed me that anything is possible thanks to the support of Madame Akhmedova and Ms. Jessica, who graciously offered their assistance. Since the moment I stepped foot into ABA, I was immediately embraced with kindness and warmth from everyone. I couldn't help but notice the passion and attention to detail that every teacher poured into each individual student. The devotion to teaching and nurturing atmosphere at ABA is undeniable. In just one week, ABA has helped me see all the possibilities my future holds. At ABA, growing is always a collaboration. It’s never “you” need to work on improving this; it's always “we” need to work on improving this. ABA has shifted my mindset and instilled a new motivation and hunger inside me. From the excellent training to the loving kinship, Akhmendova Ballet Academy is beyond anything I could wish for in a program, in a family. While I still have learning to do, I am proud to say that ABA is the place that will be by my side every step of the way. ~ Sophia
I am so grateful to have been selected for ABA’s summer intensive program! I cannot express how honored I am that I was given this opportunity, and am so grateful to Madame Akhmedova for the chance that I got to improve my understanding and technique for ballet. The intensive was amazing, and I feel that I have gained so many new things, from strength, to discipline. Thank you to the ABA staff for seeing my potential to grow and improve! ~ Eva
When I arrived at ABA for the first time at their summer intensive, it was immediately apparent to me that this place was a special one. The teachers are incredible and believe in every student, and the small class sizes allow for each teacher to share wisdom and technique to each dancer individually. Another perk of the school’s small size is that everybody knows each other. The students seem like sisters rather than simply just classmates. These factors have turned ABA into not just a school for dance, but a wonderful community and environment for growth and excellence. ~ Ellie
I really enjoyed my summer intensive with the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. I liked being in a small group, as well as the detailed attention of the teachers to the students with technique. After only a few weeks, I feel like my technique definitely improved. All these things made me want to join the year round program so I could continue progressing. ~ Nikki
The teachers at the Akhmedova ballet academy create such a welcoming and supportive environment. I had so much fun at the ABA summer intensive where I met so many new people. I have learned so much from the Akhmedova ballet academy and am always left so inspired, motivated and eager to learn more after every class. I decided to join the year around program because of how amazing the teachers are and how much I grew in just the three weeks at the summer intensive. I am so grateful for the amazing opportunity to learn at my school and get such amazing corrections and feedback from my teachers everyday. ~ Sophie
EVA
NIKKI
SOPHIA
ELLIE
SOPHIE
GENEVIEVE
ABA’S NEW FACES
WELCOME TO ABA SOPHIA, EVA, NIKKI, SOPHIE, ELLIE, GENEVIEVE! WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU JOINED OUR FAMILY!
A SNEAK PEAK INTO ABA’S SPRING GALA
Ask the Artistic Director
WITH MME. AKHMEDOVA
Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to keep going that truly matters. Courage is not the absent of fear, but rather the knowledge that something greater is worth facing that fear. Courage is the quiet voice that whispers at the end of a long day, “I will not give up.” It’s forged through relentless effort, unwavering perseverance, lessons learned from failure, countless hours of study, personal sacrifice - and above all, a deep love for what you are doing!
Mme. Akhmedova