Artistic Staff
Elizabeth Shipiatsky
-Artistic Director
Elizabeth Shipiatsky trained at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation, she was invited to dance with the Kirov Ballet of the Mariinsky Theater. She then completed a Master’s Degree in Choreography with the Leningrad State Conservatory (Russia) in 1989. Ms. Shipiatsky has choreographed for major ballet companies in Europe and North America, including the Kirov Ballet and the Vaganova Academy. Several of her original ballets have been adopted by the Vaganova Academy as part of its curriculum and are being performed by Vaganova Academy dancers all over the world. Maestro Pyotr Gusev launched Ms. Shipiatsky’s career as a ballet mistress by inviting her to assist him in staging Le Corsair for the Kirov Ballet. Since then, Ms. Shipiatsky has staged classical ballet repertoire for a number of major ballet theaters and companies including the Kirov Ballet, Vaganova Ballet Academy, Academy of the Russian Ballet, Kuibyshev Opera and Ballet Theater, Brighton Ballet Theater, Minnesota Classical Ballet, and Colorado Ballet. Ms. Shipiatsky served as a Principal Choreographer and Associate Director of Colorado Ballet II, and as a faculty member of DanceAspen and Colorado Ballet. She was the co-founder and artistic director of Classical Ballet of Colorado, and later owner and Artistic Director of Ballet Melange Academy.
The quality of Ms. Shipiatsky’s instruction is reflected in the success of her students, many of whom have been accepted to prestigious dance schools in the U.S. and abroad, such as the Vaganova Ballet Academy (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet (Washington D.C.), School of American Ballet, Houston Ballet, Arizona Ballet, Bolshoi Summer Intensive (New York), Bolshoi Academy (Moscow, Russia), American Ballet Theater, English National Ballet School (London), and Juilliard. Several of her former students are professional dancers with companies including Colorado Ballet, Dutch National Junior Company, National Ballet of Ukraine and Sacramento Ballet. Ms. Shipiatsky was the well-deserved recipient of the Outstanding Teacher award at the Denver Regional Youth America Grand Prix in 2012 and, under her direction, CBC and CBA were deemed the YAGP Outstanding School in 2013 and 2018. In the summer of 2017, Ms. Shipatsky took the first steps toward forming her long-dreamed-of professional trainee and early career professional company, Ballet Melange. She also serves as Artistic Director of Ballet Melange Academy, the feeder school to Ballet Melange.
Sergii Sydorskyi
Sergii Sydorskyi joined our year around faculty for the 2019/2020 season after guest teaching and performing with us in previous years. Named an Honored Artist in Ukraine, Mr Sydorskyi has earned numerous awards for the purity and academism of his dance execution. Mr. Sydorskyi earned a degree in dance, choreography and teaching from the famed Kiev State Choreographic School, as well as a Master's Degree in Theatrical Arts from the Kiev National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatrical Arts University. He has been Principal Dancer with the National Opera Ballet of Ukraine for many years. His extensive repertoire includes leading roles in numerous classical ballet productions in Ukraine and around the world like Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, Giselle, as well as in contemporary pieces like Apollo from George Balanchine. Currently, Mr. Sydorskyi is Principal Dancer with the Dance Alive National Ballet in Florida. Mr. Sydorsky will perform principal roles in Ballet Melange productions and will be lending his talents teaching Ballet Technique, Character, Men's Class, Acting and Pas de Deux classes.
Elizabeth Kokaska
Elizabeth Kokaska began her dance journey at the age of 4, training in Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado. A graduate of the Ballet Melange trainee program, she studied extensively under esteemed instructors such as Elizabeth Shipiatsky, Sergii Sydorsky, and Maureen Breeze. Elizabeth has performed in a wide array of classical repertoire, including Le Corsaire, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Cipollino, Paquita, The Little Humpbacked Horse, Legends of Love, Swan Lake, Coppélia, La Bayadère,La Fille mal Gardee and Sleeping Beauty., among others, and showcased her versatility in contemporary works as well. As a guest artist with Maureen Breeze Dance Theater from 2020 to 2024, she expanded her performance repertoire. Elizabeth’s talent has been recognized on international stages, notably reaching the final round at the Grand Prix Kiev in 2020 and receiving a Bronze medal and scholarship offers at TANZOLMP in Berlin in 2023 and 2024 . In 2022, she received multiple scholarships at the Universal Ballet Competition, including an offer from Point Park University. Her accolades include top awards in 2024 at prestigious competitions like the Universal Ballet Competition and ADC/IBC Ballet Competition. Elizabeth is also the First Prize winner of the Japan-Estonia-Ukraine International Ballet Competition in Tokyo, Japan 2024. Currently, Elizabeth is a dedicated Company member of Ballet Melange Performance Company and serves as the Contemporary Director of Ballet Melange Academy (formerly Classical Ballet Academy). As a contemporary choreographer since 2019, her works have received international acclaim and won multiple awards. Elizabeth is also a certified Vaganova Ballet Instructor (Levels 1-8), committed to inspiring and training the next generation of dancers with her passion and expertise.
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Marina Popovich
Marina began competitive rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 5. She was a candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine (equals level 9 in USA gymnastics system.) Marina graduated from the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine in 2012 with a major in Rhythmic Gymnastics Coaching. She has worked as a rhythmic gymnastics coach in Ukraine, Japan and USA for the past eight years and is a USA Gymnastics certified member and judge. Alongside her gymnastics training, she studied classical ballet (Vaganova method) for four years under the highly regarded and recognized ballet teacher, Igor Taranushenko. She also studied contemporary and jazz from the top teachers in Ukraine.
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While coaching and living abroad Marina became fluent in multiple languages and has also taught University level linguistics. CBA is thrilled to offer Russian Language classes under Marina's tutelage. CBA students who travel and entertain dancing abroad have enjoyed this additional opportunity of study.
Olga Zaretskaya
Ms. Olga Zaretskaya is a graduate of the Kiev State Ballet Academy, Kiev (Ukraine) and holds a Master’s Degree in Rehearsal Direction from the Kiev State University of Theatrical Arts under Valery Kovtun. Olga has considerable experience teaching and staging ballets. She was a Principal Teacher with the Academy of Russian Ballet and Assistant Artistic Director of the Russian Ballet company based in Denver, CO. Ms. Zaretskaya has staged full-length 19th century classics as well as numerous contemporary pieces. Her academy students continue to be accepted at leading ballet schools in the United States on full scholarships. Ms. Zaretskaya has been a guest teacher in studios on both coasts, in the mid-west, and Europe. She has taught summer intensives at Danceology Performing Arts Campus in San Diego as well as at V&T Classical Ballet & Dance Academy in Laguna Hills, California.
Currently, Ms. Zaretskaya is a first soloist in National Opera House in Ukraine, and her repertoire includes Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Giselle, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Flower Festival, Esmeralda, Le Corsair, Carmen-Suite, Spartacus, Romeo and Juliet, Legend of Love, Bolero, and many others. Ms. Zaretskaya will share her talents with Ballet Mélange as her performing schedule allows.