Our Guest Artists

At Kingsport Ballet, we prioritize excellence in every aspect of our performances and education. We take great pride in the quality of the guest artists we bring in for both our performances and master classes. Coming from prestigious companies and schools in the United States and abroad, these guest artists bring unique expertise and artistry that enriches the experience for our students and audiences alike. Through their collaboration with our talented dancers and instructors, they inspire growth and foster a deeper appreciation for the art of ballet. We are committed to providing our community with exceptional opportunities to learn from and be inspired by some of the best dancers and choreographers in the field.

Lauren Strongin performs as Sugar Plum Fairy in Kingsport Ballet's Nutcracker

Don Quixote Guest Artists

headshot of ballerina Oksana Maslova

Oksana Maslova

Principal
Philadelphia Ballet

Oksana Maslova’s artistic development began early on with rhythmic gymnastics, which eventually led her to an intensive ballet program with Irina Sycheva, former ballerina of St. Petersburg Ballet. Oksana then went on to the Kiev Choreographic College, where she studied under renowned teachers and artists such as Anna Petrenchuk, Evgenyi Kaigorodov, Yana Gladkih, and Dmitriy Kaigorodov. While attending the Choreographic College, Oksana began performing with Kiev Youth Ballet, where she danced the part of Arabian in The Nutcracker, Kitri in Don Quixote, and Odette in Swan Lake. After graduating from Kiev, Oksana became a student at the Institute of Culture and Arts, where she received her master’s degree as a choreographer and ballet master.

Oksana joined Philadelphia Ballet as a soloist for their 2014/2015 Season. She has since danced featured roles in Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, as well as the role of Odile/Odette in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake. In 2016, Oksana was promoted to principal dancer and has continued to perform a mixed repertoire of classical, modern, and full-length works, including David Dawson’s The Third Light, Brian Sanders’ Chicken Bone Brain, George Balanchine’s Western Symphony (Second Movement), and Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella (Cinderella).

Prior to Philadelphia Ballet, Oksana was a member of Suziriya Dance Theater, which she joined after Kiev Youth Ballet. In 2004, she became a member of the Odessa National Opera House, where she rose to the rank of soloist and performed a variety of principal roles. In 2008, she joined Grand Rapids Ballet as a principal dancer, performing their entire classical repertoire. And, in June 2011, she joined the Connecticut Ballet Company as a principal dancer, where she created the role of Alice in Brett Raphael’s Alice in Wonderland.

Dancer Yuval Cohen doing a grand jete

Yuval Cohen

Corps de Ballet
Philadelphia Ballet

Yuval Cohen began dancing at age six, when he joined the Mehola Dance Company, specializing in folk and modern dance. From 2013-2018, Yuval studied ballet and after winning an excellence scholarship in 2017 from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, he joined the Jerusalem Ballet School under the artistic direction of Nadya Timofeyeva.

In 2018, Yuval won first place in Russia’s famous The Nutcracker competition. That year, he accepted a position at The Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

During his time there, Yuval danced roles including Blue Bird Variation in The Sleeping Beauty and the Prince in The Nutcracker. After graduating from the Academy in 2021, Yuval joined The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia. Yuval joined Philadelphia Ballet II for their 2021/2022 Season and was promoted to apprentice for their 2022/2023 season, debuting as the mean stepsister in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella.

During his two seasons with the company, Yuval danced Ali in Le Corsaire, Siegfried in Swan Lake, the Prince in Snow White, Gold in The Sleeping Beauty, and more.

In June 2023, Yuval competed in the Jackson International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi where he received a bronze medal. Yuval was the first Israeli citizen to pass to the final round and medal.

Grigor Zakyan

Principal
Triad International Ballet

Grigor Zakyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia. He began his career as a dancer with his acceptance into the Yerevan State Choreographic College ballet program in 2009. He attended the Choreographic College until his graduation in 2018 after which he was offered a position with the Armenian Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan. There he has danced roles in ballets such as Gayane, Spartacus, Carmen, Don Quixote, and Giselle. Grigor recently traveled to the United States after being invited to participate in a cultural exchange program sponsored by Rotary Club International. He has been teaching ballet, performing, and continuing his training at Artistic Motion School of Arts since 2018, where he has worked with world-renowned teachers such as Misha Tchoupakov, Sean Sullivan, and Alejandra Dore. In the US, Grigor has danced in the roles of the Cavalier in The Nutcracker and Solor in La Bayadere with the Artistic Motion Dance Company as well as performed in California, Arizona, Tennessee in various roles, and has traveled up and down the east coast with other Armenian, Russian, and Ukrainian dancers in a tour sponsored by Rotary Club International. He was twice selected to participate in the Youth American Grand Prix finals in New York City and has received 100% scholarships to prestigious intensive programs such as Bolshoi, ABT, SAB, and San Francisco Ballet.

Previous Guest Artists

Headshot of Rolando Sarabia

Rolando Sarabia

Artistic Director
Roanoke Ballet Theater

headshot of Dandara Viega

Dandara Amorim Viega

Former Alvin Ailey and Ballet Hispanico Soloist

Headshot of Sasha DeSola

Sasha DeSola

Principal
San Francisco Ballet

Photo of Lyvan Verdecia jumping

Lyvan Verdecia

Former Ballet Hispanico Soloist and Princess Grace Foundation Award Recipient