serving upstate South Carolina

Faculty

IBA faculty is carefully chosen for their technical knowledge, artistic expression, and outstanding time-honored qualifications as master teachers. They have outstanding abilities to instill proper placement and dance values that include classical ballet technique and performance skills.

Lena Forster

Executive Director, Ballet Instructor, Founder

Lena Forster received her training at the prestigious School of American Ballet, official school of New York City Ballet under George Balanchine. She attended the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music as a Dance Major and performed with the Cincinnati Ballet. She taught in numerous schools in New York, and has been the Executive Director and ballet instructor at the Greenville Ballet and Ballet Spartanburg. Most recently, Ms. Foster was instrumental in initiating and managing an ongoing international cultural exchange program with the Ukrainian National Academy of Dance, providing an ideal venue for advanced students from all schools to participate in world-class dance training. Lena and her husband, Jurgen founded IBA in 2003.

Vlada Kysselova  

Associate Director, Ballet Mistress, Pointe Instructor
Vlada Kysselova received her training at the Kiev State College of Choreography and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kiev State Linguistic University and a Master’s Degree with Honors as a choreographer, coach and ballet master from the Ukrainian Academy of Dance, International Slavic University. Vlada toured as a soloist with National Theater of Opera and Ballet, Kiev (Ukraine), and as a principal dancer with Kiev Theater of Classical Ballet and Ballet Classique de Paris (France). Since May 2004, she has choreographed and staged productions for International Ballet performances.

Hennadii Bespechnyi 

Associate Director and Ballet Instructor

Hennadii Bespechnyi received his professional training at the Riga Stage College of Choreography, Latvia, under Professor Juris Kapralis. He also holds a Master’s Degree as a choreographer, coach and ballet master from the Ukrainian Academy of Dance, International Slavic University. Hennadii has toured extensively as a Principal Dancer with Ballet Classique de Paris (France), Kiev Theater of Classical Ballet (Ukraine), and International Ballet de Ochi (Japan). Since May 2004, he has choreographed, staged, and performed in International Ballet performances of Francesca da Rimini, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Lady and the Hooligan, Giselle, La Sylphide,and Coppelia as well as numerous chamber ballets.

Melanie Benson

Jazz Instructor

Melanie relocated from New York City in 2004, where she was a professional dancer/actor/singer and dance teacher for over a decade. She trained at NYC’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center. Melanie’s stage credits include Guys and Dolls, Pippin, Anything Goes, A Funny Thing Happed on the Way to the Forum, Brigadoon, and A Salute to Hollywood at NY’s Lincoln Center, The Cotton Club Review in Japan and a “Bond Girl” in The Magic of Allen Valentine in Atlantic City. She has traveled worldwide as a member of two modern dance companies. Melanie choreographed and staged A Soldier’s Tale with The Greenville Symphony in 2009.

Amy Belknap

Pre-Ballet Instructor

Amy has been studying ballet and performing with International Ballet Academy for six years. She has been a teaching assistant for ballet summer camps for 3 years. Amy has participated in the IB International Exchange Program twice and studied Baroque Dance at the Amherst Early Dance Festival 2010. She has been featured in many roles in International Ballet’s performances including Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Coppelia. She is currentlya senior at Greenville Technical College’s Charter High School.

Madison Allen

Pre-Ballet & Zumba® Instructor

Madison has been studying dance from a young age.  She studied jazz, tap, ballet, character, and is a certified Zumba® instructor.  Madison studied with Columbia City Ballet and the International Ballet Academy.  In addition, she participated in summer dance programs with American Ballet Theater and the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Kiev, Ukraine.  She performed many roles in local ballets including Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, and Coppelia.  Madison is a student at Greenville Technical College.

Ashley Martin

Creative Dance, Pre-Ballet, and Ballet Instructor 

Ashley Martin received her training at the Fine Arts Center and the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities.  She attended Clemson University as an education major, where she was a member of the Central Dance and Concert Committee and vice president of the Clemson Dancers.  She studied in New York at Broadway Dance Center and was a featured performer with David Dorfman Dance.  She has performed with International Ballet in La Sylphide, Lady and the Hooligan, Walpurgis Night, Don Quixote, A Soldier's Tale, Paquita y mas, Coppelia, and Nutcracker.

Bailey Ellis   

Pre-Ballet, Ballet I Instructor 

Bailey began dancing at the age of four at Greenville Ballet, where she trained for twelve years. She finished the last two years of her training at Carolina Ballet Theater under the instruction of Hernan Justo. She has also had additional training at Nashville Ballet and International Ballet Academy as well as master classes under Kate Skarpetowska, Brian McGinnis, and Edward Villella. She is training to complete her certification as a Pilates instrauctor.  She has performed roles in The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, La Sylphide, Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as performing in Artisphere.

Christie Leonard

Creative Dance, Beginning Jazz Instructor

Christie began her dance training with Frankie Sherman. She also trained with Pat Jackson, Felicia Scherz and Laurie McAlister. In New York City she took classes at Steps, Peridance and Broadway Dance Center.  Christie owned and operated two studios in the upstate where she produced annual recitals  as well as The Nutcracker, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Willy Wonka and original productions of The Enchanted Toy Shop and Storm the Stage.   Christie worked with the Lander University Dance Team, was a judge for the National American Miss Pageant and choreographed productions of A Christmas Carol and Westside Story for the theater ensemble FIRE. 

Debora Bunch 

Pre-Ballet Instructor

Debora relocated from New York in 1990 where she studied dance and drama from the age of three.  She performed on national television on the USA network  from 1988-1990 and worked beside actress/dancer Kelly Rippa.  She has been teaching dance in the upstate of South Carolina and Georgia for 10 years.

Irina Ushakova

Ballet, Variations Instructor

 Irina Ushakova was a principal dancer for 19 years for major ballet companies both in Russia and in the United States. Ms. Ushakova is a Bronze and Silver Medal winner in two international ballet competitions. Her repertory includes many classical ballet roles, Balanchine choreography, contemporary works, and modern performances. She is a faculty member of The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.