Performing at the Heart of Geneva
On Sunday 29 March 2026, students of Ballet Academy Geneva performed at the Conservatoire de Genève in "Chostakovich, On danse!" — a concert spectacle presented in Salle Liszt, Place de Neuve, as part of the Marathon du Conservatoire de Genève, organised by the piano class of Victoria Shereshevskaya. The project brought together students of the Conservatoire and our Academy in a beautiful moment of exchange between young musicians and young dancers.
Where Training Becomes Experience
For our students, performing at the Conservatoire — in the heart of Geneva — is an experience that reaches far beyond any classroom or rehearsal. Stepping onto a real stage, under real lights, before a real audience, asks something different of a dancer. It demands focus under pressure, acute listening, and the courage to be present. These are qualities that cannot be taught in a studio alone. They are discovered in moments exactly like these.
We are especially proud of the five very young dancers from Ballet Academy Geneva who took part in the project as the petites souris, prepared with care by Polina Smirnova:
Annika Sunil · Giulia Collo · Carolina Pretali · Sarah Tulchinskaya · Camille Hardy
Their participation — in Emma Muto's Valse-plaisanterie, featuring the "danse des petites souris" — was a lovely example of how early stage experiences can be both joyful and quietly formative.
A Dialogue Between Music and Dance
The programme was rich and varied, featuring works by F. Chatzinikolaou, E. Hoerdt, E. Muto, A. Baumgart, A. Valipour, Y. Samuel, T. Prensilevich, M. Marques, O. Uruqi, and an arrangement by D. Rasul-Kareyev. The concert opened with "Danse Russe" from the First Ballet Suite, danced by Vladimir Ippolitov, and closed with Valse No. 2arranged for clarinet, cello, and piano.
Artists and Programme
The event was graced by exceptional guest artists:
Yumi Aizawa — dancer, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève · formerly first soloist, Opéra National de Bordeaux · trained at the Hamburg Ballet School · repertoire includes works by Kylián, Forsythe, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet
Vladimir Ippolitov — former dancer of the Mariinski Ballet, former soloist of the Opéra National de Bordeaux and the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and today founder of Ballet Academy Geneva and World Ballet Stars
Dmitry Rasul-Kareyev — Principal Clarinet (Premier soliste), Orchestre de la Suisse Romande — Premier Grand Prix, International Claude Debussy Competition · Founder, Soloist Academy
Dan Sloutskovski — Solo Cello (Violoncelle solo), Orchestre de Chambre de Genève — Laureate of numerous international competitions · First Prize with distinction, Haute École de Musique de Genève · Founder, Geneva Piano Trio
Victoria Shereshevskaya — piano · organiser of "Chostakovich, On danse!" within the Marathon du Conservatoire de Genève
With Gratitude
We are deeply grateful to the Conservatoire de Genève, to Victoria Shereshevskaya, to all the musicians and artists, and above all to our students — for their commitment, their presence, and their trust on stage.
At Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov, stage work is not a reward for progress. It is progress itself. Structured training, musicality, discipline, and the ability to share something with an audience — these cannot be separated. Events like "Chostakovich, On danse!" are precisely where they come together.
