Our Team
Valentina Barsukova
Owner, Artistic Director
Valentina received her Vaganova ballet training in the Ukraine beginning with the Kharkov Ballet School and graduating from Kiev Academy of Ballet.
Becca Grden
Becca grew up in Livonia, Michigan and started dancing at age 3. She trained in ballet (Cecchetti), modern, contemporary, tap, and hip hop …
Olga Wiebelhaus
Over 15 years of experience working with children of all ages, including teaching languages and rhythmic coaching both in Russia and the US.
Brandon Koepsell
Brandon Koepsell is a Detroit native and graduate of the Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA. After graduation, Brandon spent time performing with…
Jennifer Defer
Miss Jennifer has been part of the VSB family for a couple years. She has had a love for teaching dance to all ages for over 25 years! Teaching Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, Dance Team, Creative Movement, Acting, Italian Cultural Dance, and Conditioning at many local schools including Suzette’s Masters of Dance, That’s Dancing, Fraser High School, and Macomb Community College
Natalya Makina
Born in Russia, Natalia had a successful career at Perm Ballet Company dancing in Serenade, Giselle, Swan Lake and many other prominent Ballets. She was a Principal Dancer for 10 years and has toured in many countries. She has been teaching classical ballet in the US since 2018 and also had been a summer Guest Instructor in Malta for 8 years
Guest Teachers
Gemma Beasley
Alyssa Cebulski
Alyssa Cebulski, from Michigan, joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in NYC in 2016 and has performed in Chronicle, Maple Leaf Rag, Diversion of Angels and Primitive Mysteries. Outside from her work with Graham she has performed works by Dwight Rhoden, Aszure Barton, Kate Skarpetowska, Larry Keigwin, and others. Alyssa was a member of Graham 2 and has a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College.
Masha Beck
Maria Beck was born in Detroit, Michigan and began studying ballet at the age of 6 with Valentina Barsukova. In 2008, at the YAGP she received a scholarship to study at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington where her teachers were Lyubov Fominich…
Andrii Ishchuk
Andrii Ishchuk was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. At the age of four, he began studying ballet at Kharkiv Ballet School under the direction of Elena Solovyova and Mikhail Bezzubikov. Ishchuk performed titles roles in several children’s ballets, including Cinderella, Snowdrop and Pinocchio. In 2013, he received an Ellison Ballet Training Program Scholarship to study in the United States under the direction of Edward Ellison…
Christie Sciturro
Christie Sciturro Garcia is currently a member of the Corps de Ballet with The Miami City Ballet. She joined the company in 2006 and has danced numerous Balanchine, classical, contemporary, and modern works. Some of her soloist roles in the company include Queen of the Dryads in Don Quixote, “5 Pieces” in Episodes, Hippolyta in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Myrtha in Giselle…
Mackenzie Bartlett
Ballet West Academy Trainee:
Joined Ballet West II: 2020…