Valentina received her Vaganova ballet training in the Ukraine beginning with the Kharkov Ballet School and graduating from Kiev Academy of Ballet. She danced professionally with the Kharkov Ballet Theatre performing in productions including Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Sone of the Forest, Carmen, Don Quixote, and Nutcracker.
During her time as a professional dancer, Valentina furthered her studies receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Choreography and a Masters Degree in engineering.
In 1994, Valentina moved to the United States and taught for Geiger Classical Ballet Academy, and Big City Dance Center. She then taught for Juliana’s Academy of Dance staging and choreographing ballet productions including Chipollino, Doctor Dolittle, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow Queen. In 2002, Valentina became a U.S. citizen.
Miss V, as she is affectionately addressed by her students, has had many dancers qualify for the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) New York City Finals in groups and as soloists earning her two YAGP Outstanding Teacher Awards. Her students have been accepted into residential programs—Bolshoi Ballet Academy; Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC; Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet; Miami City Ballet School; Pacific Northwest Ballet School; Canada’s National Ballet School; The Rock School for Dance Education; The Ailey School, Official School of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—and countless summer intensives… many having been accepted with partial or full scholarships for both residential and intensive programs.
Valentina is extremely proud of the students she’s fostered and who have gone on to work professionally in companies including Stanislavsky Theatre (Moscow), Miami City Ballet (Miami), and Complexions Contemporary Ballet (New York).