Expert guidance at the barre and beyond.

Ms. Anna Fateeva-Kazantseva was born in Moscow, and began her dance training at the Academy of the Bolshoi Ballet at the age of nine. She graduated in 1992 and joined the Moscow Classical Ballet Company. Anna performed a number of principal roles in ballets such as the “Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake”, “Giselle”, “Don Quixote”, “Cinderella”, “Romeo & Juliet” and many more. She accompanied the Company on many world tours, dancing in Japan, Italy, France, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, China, Mexico and other countries. In 1998, Anna moved to the United States and continued her career as guest performer for the Eglevsky Ballet, the Leggz, and the Tressor Dance Company. In 2000, she joined the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and most recently, the prestigious Ballet Arts, as a ballet teacher.

In February of 2006, Anna became a partner and the artistic director of an innovative dance school, sharing the unique knowledge and technique inherited from her world-renowned ballet teachers at Bolshoi with every child who joins the magical world of dance at Nika Ballet Studio.

Edita Greben began her ballet training at the age of eight in Kyiv, Ukraine, and continued her studies after moving to Brooklyn, New York. She has trained under the guidance of Anna Fateeva since the age of nine and has been part of the Nika Ballet Studio family since its founding, first as a student and, for the past 17 years, as a faculty member teaching rhythmics, beginner ballet, and intermediate ballet.

In addition to her teaching, Edita has served as a Russian-English translator for summer ballet intensives held at Juilliard, the Metropolitan Opera, and the David H. Koch Theater, as well as for ballet teacher certification programs presented by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. These experiences have enriched her artistic education, allowing her to learn from distinguished educators while bringing that knowledge and inspiration into her own classroom.

Outside the studio, Edita is a licensed speech-language pathologist dedicated to helping children develop confidence through communication. She is passionate about fostering not only strong technical foundations, but also creativity, discipline, and a genuine love of dance in every student.

Edita is deeply grateful to Nika Ballet Studio for providing her with far more than exceptional ballet training. It has been a second home, a source of lifelong mentorship, and the place where many of her closest friendships began. She hopes each student who enters the studio leaves with lasting memories, confidence, and the same lifelong appreciation for ballet that has shaped her own journey.

Olga has been a valued member of our studio family since 2011. She began her journey at the studio as the Administrative Assistant, where she built meaningful relationships with students and their families while supporting the growth and daily operations of the studio. Alongside her administrative role, Olga developed her passion for teaching and has spent the past eight years sharing her love of dance through Modern Dance and Ballet instruction.

As an educator, Olga is dedicated to creating a positive and nurturing environment where students can develop strong technique, confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for dance. She believes that dance is not only an art form, but also a powerful way to foster self-expression, discipline, and personal growth.

Outside of the studio, Olga recently earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) and became a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). As she begins her career as a psychotherapist, she continues teaching because dance remains one of her greatest passions. She believes that both dance and mental health play an important role in helping people grow, express themselves, and build resilience. Olga is grateful for the opportunity to continue inspiring and supporting her students through the art of dance.

Anna Manfra is a New York-based dancer and educator trained in the Vaganova method at a professional ballet school in Poland, with further training at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York, and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.

She has performed professionally with the Polish National Ballet, Brooklyn Ballet, and Grand Kyiv Ballet, dancing in productions including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Brooklyn Nutcracker, and more.

Anna now teaches ballet, contemporary, creative movement, rhythmics, and acrobatics across New York City studios, bringing her classical training and stage experience into every class. Precise, joyful, and demanding in the best way, because real discipline sets artistry free.

Kateryna Honcharova began her training in classical ballet, modern, and jazz dance at an early age in Kyiv, Ukraine. She earned her BFA in Dance from Kyiv National University of Arts. During her studies, she was accepted into several cultural exchange scholarship programs in Paris, France, where she trained in jazz and contemporary dance. During one of these programs, she was invited by co-founder Desmond Richardson to attend the prestigious Complexions Contemporary Ballet Pre-Professional Program in New York City. She later continued her professional training as part of the scholarship program at The Ailey School.

Kateryna has worked with numerous dance companies, artists and choreographers in New York City and beyond, performing in a variety of dance projects, shows, two Off-Broadway musicals, and a National Tour.

Alongside performing, teaching has always been an important part of her artistic journey. She is passionate about sharing her love for dance with her students, creating a positive and inspiring environment where young dancers can grow not only technically, but also artistically and confidently. Kateryna believes in encouraging individuality, discipline, and a genuine love for movement and self-expression through dance.

Gabriella Flanders is a dedicated multi-genre dancer and teacher with a deep love for performance and creation. Originally from Monterey, California, Gabriella grew up training at the highest level in ballet, contemporary, and jazz. In addition to her studies at home, she was awarded scholarships to attend many prestigious courses around the United States and Europe including the English National and Royal Danish Ballets intensives. She later attended New York University Tisch School of the Arts where she graduated cum laude with her BFA in Dance. While at NYU she worked with world-renowned artists and further expanded both her artistry and her mind.

Gabriella has been a member of Sean Curran Company since 2023 and performed several world premieres with the company including performances at The Kennedy Center, The New Victory Theater, The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and many others. In addition to performing with the company she also teaches and sets company repertoire at many universities and companies including NYU, SUNY Purchase, Hofstra University, and on Les Ballets Trockadero.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Daryna began rhythmic gymnastics at the age of four at the Deriugina School of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Kyiv. At fourteen, she became a member of the Ukrainian National Team and competed in numerous national and international competitions. At fifteen, she received the prestigious title of Master of Sports, recognizing her advanced achievement and dedication to rhythmic gymnastics.

In addition to gymnastics, Daryna trained in modern dance, jazz, and acro-dance at the TODES School-Studio under the guidance of A. Bukolovskis. Her diverse training allows her to combine athletic strength, flexibility, coordination, and precision with musicality and expressive movement.

As a teacher at Nika Ballet Studio, Daryna focuses on helping students safely develop flexibility, balance, strength, body control, and confidence. Her classes provide structured, age-appropriate training in gymnastics and acro-dance while encouraging discipline, perseverance, and a positive attitude.

Daryna also holds a Master of Laws degree from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and an LL.M. in International Law from Fordham University School of Law.

Kylie Skye Springer is a professional dance teacher, choreographer, and performer with over 16 years of competitive dance training. She is classically trained in the Vaganova method of ballet, having studied under its rigorous principles for 14 years. Kylie has continued her professional development through prestigious training programs including Bolshoi Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Move|NYC| Young Professionals, AMDA, and Rock the City, where she trained with renowned industry professionals and expanded her versatility across multiple dance styles.

As a teacher and choreographer, Kylie has worked with dancers ages 5 to 16 in both recreational and competitive settings, specializing in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, modern, musical theatre, acro, flexibility, conditioning, and technique. She has choreographed numerous regional and national award-winning routines and has trained title-winning dancers throughout New York. Her teaching emphasizes strong technical foundations, artistry, musicality, performance quality, and confidence, while fostering a positive and disciplined environment where every dancer can thrive.

As a performer, Kylie has earned numerous regional and national titles throughout her competitive career and has performed on some of the country’s most recognizable stages, including Madison Square Garden and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is represented by MSA Agency for dance, acting, and modeling and has appeared in television, live entertainment, and commercial productions. Her diverse professional experience allows her to bring real-world industry knowledge into the classroom, preparing dancers not only for competition but also for performance and professional opportunities. Kylie is passionate about inspiring the next generation of artists by helping each student develop exceptional technique, confidence, discipline, and a genuine love for dance.