Famed Russian ballet instructor to visit CAC

CONNEAUT – Historic Kilpi Hall is a beloved venue for those who participate in the Conneaut Arts Center’s dance program.
After conducting a masterclass at the CAC’s home, Russian ballet teacher Valery Lantratov decided he needed to return to conduct a second event just a year later.
“He absolutely loved it,” CAC Administrative Assistant Jordan Jones said. “He asked if he could come back.”
“It’s so cool he found us and came to us,” Jones continued. “He enjoyed coaching so many of our dancers and dancers from over our area, even Pennsylvania. One of our dance moms is from Russia and she had such a good time, so did (Lantratov). It was such an honor to have him here.”
Lantratov will host a ballet masterclass from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, at the Conneaut Arts Center, 1025 Buffalo St.
“It’s a very big deal,” Jones said. “It just makes what I do so worth it. It’s very validating to be recognized by a distinguished Russian ballet teacher, and he wants to come here. It’s definitely an honor (to host him here).”
The cost for the class is $30 and is for dancers age 9 and older. Registration is required.
“It’s a more formal ballet class,” Jones said. “I mean, all ballet classes are very formal, but I, myself, wouldn’t teach a masterclass because I’m not a master ballet instructor…[Lantratov] is coming from a very distinguished background. He has been teaching his whole life, head of different companies, principal dancer. He has that title of being a master instructor. It’s a very formal class. Most dancers are probably going to wear a black leotard and pink tights with point shoes. Usually, we’re a little bit more free flow in here. We don’t really have a strict dress code, but for something like this, it’s very slick-your-hair-back and get focused.”
Lantratov is returning to the area after leading a masterclass at the Conneaut Arts Center on Jan. 11, 2025.
“The students were pushed out of their comfort zones,” Jones said. “That’s what pleases me. They took a masterclass from one of the best in the world and they left happy and confident.”
Lantratov travels the world instructing dancers and, while searching for venues to host ballet masterclasses in the United States, his team stumbled upon the Conneaut Arts Center.
“They actually reached out to us,” Jones said. “He has an agent and she sent an email saying, ‘We found your studio online, and it looks like a beautiful place to have a masterclass. We would love to come out.’”
When Latratov’s team initially contacted the CAC, Jones wasn’t sure it was real. Once she learned she wasn’t dreaming, the excitement grew.
“At first, I was like, ‘Is this is this real? This is really cool,’” Jones said. “I’m really excited. We’ve only had one masterclass here in the past, like 15, 20 years ago, and it was Mercyhurst. They brought their ballet program over, and all their dancers, too. I remember that being so cool and such a formative experience as a young dancer to be dancing with college, professional dancers. Then, this Russian ballet teacher reached out, and I was like, ‘Whoa!’ I’m very excited.”
Young dancers can expect the class to be taught much the same as any formal class might be.
“He’ll teach just like it’s a beginning ballet class, but it’s going to be very classical,” Jones said. “We’ll go through all of the different steps at the bar, and then some dancers will change into point shoes and take the center, probably end with just thanking the teacher, maybe a question-and-answer at the end.”
Lantratov has had a distinguished career as a dancer in the companies of Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plitsetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova and international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. Most recently he has made international headlines for his role as Czar Nicholas II in a production of the new ballet Rasputin, with Farouk Ruzimatov of the Marinsky Theater (Kirov) and for successful international tours of Don Quixote and original choreography for the annual festival for the goddess Aphrodite in Cyprus.
With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia.
“No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art – eternal values,” Lantratov has said.
A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater, he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet. He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.
In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. That same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov the “People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia’s renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts – GITIS.
GITIS’ ballet department was founded in 1946 under A. Gorsky, R. Zakharov and Leonid Lavaovsky of the Bolshoi Ballet with equal state funding to the Bolshoi. It is the only institute in Russia to offer a diploma in choreography and direction for ballet theatre. Its distinguished ballet masters include Vladimir Vassiliev (director of the Bolshoi, retired), Nadja Pavlova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired) and Katirina Maximova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired).
Lantratov also served a three-year term as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet.
The class could be a turning point for young dancers.
“This is huge for the young dancers,” Jones said. “Like I said, I think I was 13 or 14, maybe, when Mercyhurst came and that was a big deal. This is even bigger because he is a master instructor all the way from Russia. This is going to be a huge turning point for a lot of the dancers. It’s a very serious thing, and definitely a big deal.”
Having Lantratov lead a class gives the young dancers another influence.
“They don’t have many instructors,” Jones said. “They have two, sometimes three, and they’ve grown up with us their whole lives, so it is a huge deal to participate in your first masterclass, whether it’s at your home studio or out in Cleveland.”
Jones hopes the Conneaut Arts Center’s dancers experience much of what she felt as a young dancer in her first masterclass.
“I hope that, when he teaches the class, it’s similar enough to what we normally do, but different enough for them to really appreciate how big and beautiful the ballet world is, and I just really hope that he can bring that inspiration that I’ve gotten at their age,” Jones said.
Registration for the masterclass can be completed online, https://www.conneautartscenter.com/dance-classes; by phone, 440-593-5888; or in person, 1025 Buffalo St.