Ilona Missakian, Ph. D. owner/director

Education Dance:    Cecilia Marie School of Dance            1971 to 1980

                                     Cecilia Marie

                                 Royal Academy Ballet                         1980 to 1985

                                     Yvonne Cusack

                                 Washington Ballet summer intensive     1984

                                      Mark Mejia

                                 Vaganova, Russian Classical technique  1985-2003

                                      Marielle Reyes

                                 Vaganova, Russian Classical technique  1988-2000

                                      Sona Vartanian, Les Ballets Classiques de Montreal

                                 Latin Jazz, Jazz seminars                       1987-1990

                                     Dennon and Sayber Rawles

                                 Flamenco                                  1989, 1999-2001

                                     Juan Talavera and Vera Celaya

                                 Irish Dance                                            2002-2004

                                    Michelle Larson

                                 Folk Dance                                            2002-2004

                                    Larissa Nazarenko

                                 Ongoing ballet technique seminars           2003-current

Completed National Certification May 2023

Teaching Experience:  California Classical Youth Ballet        2007-current

                                           artistic director (appointed 12/28/07)

                                      California Classical Youth Ballet       1999-2007

                                           associate director

                                      Academy en l'Air Ballet Studio         2007- current

                                           owner/director

                                      Dance en l'Air Ballet Academy        1994-2007

                                            instructor/associate director

                                      Alexandra Ballet Academy              1987-1993

                                            instructor

                                      Dellos Dance and Performing Arts Center 1990-1993

                                            instructor

                                      Tricia Coran Studios                        1989-1990

                        summer faculty

Performing:   California Classical Youth Ballet                         1999-2006          

                          -story ballet roles for Sleeping Beauty (lilac fairy), Nutcracker

                          (Snow Queen, Arabian, Sugarplum Fairy), Victorian Toy Shoppe

                          (Arabian, Spanish)

                          -repertoire  (Gypsy, Raymonda, Paquita, Swan Lake, Dying

                           Swan, Spanish, Carmen Suite, Nutcracker character roles,

                           Pas de Quatre, Stars and Stripes, Le Corsaire, The Four

                           Seasons, various lyrical pieces)

                       Forum Dance Ensemble               1985-1987  and 1989-1990

                         -story ballet roles for Nutcracker (Snow, Waltz of the Flowers,

                           Spanish, Russian)

                         -repertoire (Brecht Ballet, soloist, spring festival, Marches Ballet)

                       Les Ballet Classiques de Montreal                         1987-1988

                         -repertoire (choreography by Lambrose Lambrou, Rudolf

                           Karatian, Balanchine, Sona Vartanian; pieces from Giselle,

                           La Vivandiere, Swan Lake, Paquita, various studio pieces)

                       Dance en l'Air Ballet Academy and Alexandra Ballet  1984-1999

                          multiple Spring and Winter studio performances and demonstrations

                          of class technique and choreography