Academy of Cleveland Ballet

This is our other Curriculum Director and Cleveland Ballet company dancer, Albina Ghazaryan!✨🩰

Albina Ghazaryan brings both her love of dance and her international stage experience to the Academy of Cleveland Ballet. Trained at the Armenian State College of Choreography, she went on to perform as a principal dancer with companies around the world, including the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia, The Israel Ballet, the Musical Theatre of Karelia in Russia, New Jersey Ballet, and Cleveland Ballet.

As a teacher and coach, Albina is passionate about guiding dancers of all ages and levels. She specializes in the Vaganova method and has created a full curriculum for the Academy, leading classes from preschool through advanced training. Her students have gone on to win medals in international competitions, receive scholarships, and join prestigious pre-professional programs and professional ballet companies.

In addition to her work at the Academy, Albina has been invited to teach masterclasses and private coaching sessions across the U.S. and abroad, focusing on pointe, variations, partnering, conditioning, and performance preparation. Known for her caring and encouraging approach, she helps every student discover their unique artistry while building strong technique.
Fluent in English, Russian, and Armenian, Albina brings a global perspective to her teaching. Whether she’s in the studio coaching for a performance or introducing a young child to their very first ballet steps, Albina is committed to nurturing confidence, discipline, and a love for dance in each of her students.
What’s your favorite part of class with Albina? Drop a 🩰 below!

Introducing one our two curriculum directors and Cleveland Ballet dancer…Narek Martirosyan! 💪✨

Narek Martirosyan is a dedicated ballet instructor and principal dancer with more than two decades of professional stage experience and over 10 years of teaching expertise. Trained at the Yerevan State Choreographic College in the Vaganova method, Narek has performed as a principal dancer with renowned companies including the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia, the Israel Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and currently, Cleveland Ballet. His career has also taken him across Russia and beyond, giving him a rich international perspective that he brings into the studio.

As a teacher, Narek is passionate about sharing both the artistry and discipline of ballet. He has coached dancers who have gone on to win awards at some of the world’s most respected competitions, including Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the USA International Ballet Competition (USIBC), and the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC). In addition to classical training, he is also an accomplished choreographer, with contemporary and neoclassical works presented at YAGP, USIBC, and VKIBC.

At the Academy, Narek teaches classical ballet, pas de deux, and performance coaching, always tailoring his approach to help each student grow both technically and artistically. He integrates injury-prevention strategies and cross-training into his teaching, believing that strong, healthy dancers are best equipped for long and successful careers. His students describe him as both challenging and supportive — a mentor who pushes them to achieve their highest potential while encouraging their individual artistry.
Have you taken a class with Narek? Leave a 💪 below!

Wrapping up week number two of our Summer training program! ✨🩰 Stronger. Smarter. More inspired. We can’t wait to continue watching our students growth over the next 3 weeks.

First up in our teacher spotlight series is Lily Hehr, Director of the Academy of Cleveland Ballet 🩰 ✨

Lily Hehr is from Tallmadge Ohio and has enjoyed performing in performances such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Serenade and Margo Sappington’s Alice as a company member with Cleveland Ballet. Diagnosed with vestibular discrimination, auditory processing disorder, double vision, and a heart condition, Lily has had a unique career and perspective that influences how she teaches and helps her students. She is the co-author for the curriculum “Art Smarts: Developing Neurological Processing, Cognitive, Social, and Behavioral Skills through Dance,” and hopes to inspire, connect and assist every student she works with.

Get to know our incredible group of faculty for our Summer Training Program over the course of the next few weeks! ✨

We are still reminiscing about the magic of “The Four Seasons” 🌸🏖️🍂❄️

Congratulations to all of our Academy of Cleveland Ballet students and Cleveland Ballet Trainees on a beautiful Spring Showcase earlier this month. We couldn’t be more proud of the artistry, dedication, and joy you brought to the stage.

Now… who’s ready to do it all again? Our Summer Training Program starts next week, and we can’t wait to welcome dancers back to the studio. ☀️🩰

📸 Thanks to Bruno Palheta

The Academy of Cleveland Ballet presents its Spring Showcase with “Academia” and “The Four Seasons.” Set to Vivaldi’s iconic music, the ballet captures the essence of each season through a series of dance sequences that reflect the changing moods, atmospheres, and themes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

🗓️ Saturday, June 13
⏰ 3:30PM
📍 Andrews Osborne Academy's Performing Arts Center

Tickets are on sale now! Visit cleveballet.org/spring-showcase to learn more.

Look at our Level 1 students preparing for their Spring Showcase! 🌸