top of page

Presented by

A.S.E. Global Bridges

Bridges to a Shared Future Through Dance

When John Cranko came to Stuttgart in 1961, he brought the Ballet Company of the State Theatre Stuttgart, today’s Stuttgart Ballet, to world fame within a short period of time. Cranko's idea to establish a ballet school in Stuttgart where talented young dancers would be trained in close contact with the Ballet Company became reality ten years after the founding of the Stuttgart Ballet.

 

The John Cranko Schule, named after its founder in 1974, was officially opened on 1st December 1971 establishing a comprehensive education in classical dance from basic training to a professional degree. In 1973, it was given the status of a State Ballet Academy and officially offered a complete ballet education in classical dance recognized with a state diploma. Under the direction of Anne Woolliams the school advanced to one of the most internationally recognized addresses for talented young dancers. Since 1999 the John Cranko School, affiliated to the Stuttgart Ballet, has been under the direction of Tadeusz Matacz and is one of the most renowned ballet schools in the world.

"John Cranko had a genius for ballet. He created a new world in dance. His work as an artist will be remembered because he initiated a new and spectacular approach to ballet."
- Clive Barnes, The New York Times

About The John Cranko School

John Cranko School SI Teachers

Fabio Adorisio, Nicola Biasutti, Nataly Bratanova, Maria Eichwald, Natalia Gasmaeva, Hyemin Kim, Daniela Lanzetti, Dimitri Magitov, Galina Solovieva, Silvia Tzankova

Director, John Cranko School

Tadeusz Matacz

Tadeusz Matacz, born in Warsaw, Poland, received his ballet education at the State Ballet Academy in Warsaw where he also completed his pedagogical training with Leonid Zhdanov. In 1977 he had his first engagement as a dancer at the Big Theater Warsaw and at the same time worked as a ballet teacher at the ballet school in Warsaw. From 1979 to 1984 Tadeusz Matacz was a Principal Dancer at the Big Theater Warsaw. From 1984 to 1992 he was a Soloist at the Badische State Theatre in Karlsruhe where he also took on pedagogical commitments as of 1988. From 1992 to 1998 Tadeusz Matacz was Ballet Master and Choreographer at the Badische State Theater in Karlsruhe. From 1990 to 1998 he also worked as a Guest Teacher with Ballet Frankfurt, Toulouse Ballet, the Big Theater Warsaw and from 1997 to 1998 also with the Stuttgart Ballet.
Since 1st January 1999 Tadeusz Matacz has been the Director of the John Cranko School in Stuttgart. He is regulary invited to be a juror at renowned international ballet competitions, including a long-time leadership role jury panel at YAGP.

Rina Kirshner has been dedicated to building cross-cultural and transnational bridges through Arts, Sports, and Education for over 25 years. Among them; John Cranko School Summer Intensives in the US, Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensives in the US, NSLI for Youth Scholarships to Study Language Abroad - Russian Language & Culture, SportsUnited: Basketball Ambassadors of Today and Tomorrow, Sports For All; Professional Exchanges promoting Inclusivity for Youth with Special Needs, and Battles on Ice Friendship Hockey Matches between NY and Moscow Firefighters. Rina Kirshner served as a member of the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, Culture Sub-Working Group. 

Vice President, ASE Global Bridges

Rina Kirshner

Rina Kirshner has been dedicated to building cross-cultural and transnational bridges through Arts, Sports, and Education for over 25 years. In her leadership role with ASE, Rina develops and oversees acclaimed initiatives, among them; John Cranko School Summer Intensives in the US, Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensives in the US, NSLI for Youth Scholarships to Study Language Abroad - Russian Language & Culture, SportsUnited: Basketball Ambassadors of Today and Tomorrow, Sports For All; Professional Exchanges promoting Inclusivity for Youth with Special Needs, and Battles on Ice Friendship Hockey Matches between NY and Moscow Firefighters. Rina Kirshner served as a member of the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, Culture Sub-Working Group. 

Phone: 212-687-6118 ext. 207 

Email: gbernal@aseglobalbridges.org

Program Director

John Cranko School SI NY

JCS November Workshop

Geneva Bernal

Phone: 212-687-6118 ext. 207 

gbernal@aseglobalbridges.org

Phone: 212-687-6118 ext. 208

Email: kshurygina@aseglobalbridges.org

Artistic Director

John Cranko School SI CT & Auditions

Kate Shurygina

Phone: 212-687-6118 ext. 203

Email: irina@aseglobalbridges.org

Ms. Volkova graduated University of Theatrical Arts-Moscow (GITIS), Russia, where she earned a B.A. in Choreography and Character Dance. She started her professional career as a soloist with one of Moscow’s leading companies. and in 1996 was invited as a principal dancer with the internationally acclaimed “Riverdance” show. In 2005 Yana Volkova joined Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Volkova has worked with ASE's programs as an Artistic Director since its inception.

Artistic Director

John Cranko School SI NY

Yana Volkova

Ms. Volkova graduated University of Theatrical Arts-Moscow (GITIS), Russia, where she earned a B.A. in Choreography and Character Dance. She started her professional career as a soloist with one of Moscow’s leading companies. and in 1996 was invited as a principal dancer with the internationally acclaimed “Riverdance” show. In 2005 Yana Volkova joined Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Volkova has worked with ASE's programs as an Artistic Director since its inception.

bottom of page