Take Your First Step Towards the Academy of Your Dreams
This is a rare opportunity to train in Japan with current Vaganova Ballet Academy teachers visiting from Russia.
Auditions for the Academy Summer School and full-time study programme will also take place during the intensive. Participation offers a chance to build a connection with the Academy and may support your future application.
Whether you want to experience the authentic Vaganova Method or pursue ballet training abroad, this intensive offers an exceptional learning opportunity.
The programme concludes with a final concert. Participants who attend the full programme will receive a certificate of completion.
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池田 朱穂さん
（渡部ブーベルバレエアカデミー）
Accepted for full-time study at the Vaganova Ballet Academy after participating in the Winter Intensive.
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高橋 花さん
（Cheng Ballet Academy）
Accepted for full-time study at the Vaganova Ballet Academy after participating in the Winter Intensive and Summer School.
The Winter Intensive is an official programme organised annually by JVBA as part of this mission.
Four teachers from the Vaganova Ballet Academy will visit Japan, offering authentic Russian ballet training in Tokyo and Osaka.
Working directly with Academy teachers helps you recognise subtle corrections and develop a better understanding of how to use your body.
Revisit your foundations and build the technique needed to dance with greater beauty and efficiency.
Classes are grouped by level, providing appropriate guidance both for newcomers to the method and for students who already study it.
An interpreter accompanies every class, helping students understand the teachers accurately without worrying about the language barrier.
Optional private lessons offer insight into the qualities that judges look for, with guidance to help you prepare for ballet study abroad and aim for strong competition results.
Ballet teaching continues to evolve while respecting tradition. Learn current teaching approaches directly from Academy teachers.
Students may also take part in auditions for full-time study abroad and book one-to-one private lessons.
Parents may attend the final concert and open classes to see their children’s progress firsthand.
Participants who attend the full programme receive a certificate of completion in recognition of their efforts.
Application deadline: 22 December 2026
Registration closes earlier if the groups reach capacity.
Tel: 03-3723-2011
3 minutes on foot from Toritsu-daigaku Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line.
Application deadline: 22 December 2026
Registration closes earlier if the groups reach capacity.
Tel: 080-4859-5589
10 minutes on foot from Takaida Station on the Osaka Metro, or Takaida-Chuo Station on the JR Osaka Higashi Line (22 minutes direct from Shin-Osaka).
Tel: 072-671-1061
Approximately 8 minutes on foot from Takatsuki-shi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, or 13 minutes from Takatsuki Station on the JR Kyoto Line.
Group A: Ages 9–12 (Primary School)
Vaganova Years 2–3
Strengthen your technique
Practise fundamental positions and movements, including turnout, pirouettes and tours. Refine upper-body posture, arm lines and use of the back to develop elegance and precision. Live piano accompaniment supports musical timing and expression.
Develop stamina and concentration
Focused practice builds endurance and mental concentration. At this stage, students consolidate their foundations while working towards more accurate technique and beautiful stage lines. They also deepen their understanding of ballet and artistic expression. A choreographed étude will be presented at the final concert.
Ideal for students who want to:
• Study ballet seriously
• Strengthen their foundations
• Develop expression
• Train in the Vaganova Method
• Explore jumps and turns
Classes
Classical dance (beginner level), repertoire/variations, historical (court) dance, character dance and floor ballet (gymnastics).
Careful instruction in the foundations of the Vaganova Method develops rhythm, whole-body coordination, beautiful feet, elegant hands and expressive eye lines.
Students analyse characters and practise expressing and controlling emotions through movement and music. They learn short themed choreography and excerpts from works.
Repertoire
A piece choreographed by the teacher will be presented at the final concert. The work is to be announced.
Group A does not use pointe shoes.
Group B: Ages 12–20 (Secondary School and Above)
Vaganova Years 4–5
Classical dance (intermediate level), pointe training, repertoire/variations, historical (court) dance, character dance and floor ballet (gymnastics).
Take on more advanced technique!
Group B challenges students to advance their technique, refine their expression and progress as ballet dancers.
Advanced technique
Barre work develops placement and balance; centre work refines the accuracy of turns and jumps. Students receive instruction in current Vaganova Method teaching approaches.
Explore ballet theory
Study ballet history and theory to deepen your understanding of ballet as a complete art form.
Ideal for students who want to:
• Learn how to use their bodies for advanced technique
• Consolidate the foundations of the Vaganova Method
• Deepen their understanding of ballet history and music to enrich expression
• Gain stage experience
• Pursue study abroad or a professional dance career
Pointe
Young dancers who have begun pointe training work towards greater precision, elegance and dynamism. Lessons refine technique while exploring the background of the repertoire and the details that make a performance beautiful.
Repertoire
Students rehearse a work for presentation at the final concert. The work is to be announced.
Character dance
Explore character and folk-dance elements frequently seen in ballet productions. Building on classical technique, students learn traditional movement, expression and the role of national costume. Character dance adds depth to ballet storytelling while developing stage confidence and expression.
Eligibility: at least four years of ballet training, with pointe experience.
Osaka: 7 January 2027
On the final day, both Groups A and B will hold open classes. Participants’ teachers and parents are welcome to observe both groups.
See Vaganova teachers at work and discover how training differs by age and level. This is an opportunity to understand your child’s current progress, next goals and possible path towards ballet study abroad.
Please refrain from eating, drinking, or entering and leaving during lessons, except in emergencies.
- Tatiana KurenkovaVaganova Ballet Academy Teacher
A 1986 honours graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, Tatiana became a soloist at Lviv’s Ivan Franko Theatre and joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre in 1992. Her career includes leading roles and international tours. Since 2016, she has taught classical dance to junior and intermediate students at the Academy.
- Yulia ZaitsevaVaganova Ballet Academy Teacher
Yulia graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in 1984 and performed with the Mikhailovsky Theatre until 2006. She completed the Academy’s teacher-training programme in 2005. Since 2003, she has taught historical dance to junior students and trainee teachers, bringing her extensive stage experience to the Academy’s classroom.
- Tatiana SolomyankoVaganova Academy
Senior TeacherA senior Academy teacher, Tatiana graduated in 1993, joined the Mariinsky Ballet and became a soloist in 1994. Her repertoire includes Giselle, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Don Quixote and other classics. She has taught at the Academy since 2006 and qualified as a ballet master through its teacher-training programme in 2010.
- Yulia
KamilovaVaganova Ballet Academy TeacherSt Petersburg-born Yulia graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in 1997 and joined the Mikhailovsky Ballet. She danced corps de ballet, soloist and character roles, often alongside Zhanna Ayupova. Now an Academy teacher, she uses Japanese explanations to help students understand character-dance movements.
- Tomoyo WatanabeFloor Ballet
TeacherTomoyo studied Vaganova teaching at Perm Ballet School’s Japan branch and trained in Russia. She danced with the Udmurt State Theatre from 2007 to 2010 and became a certified Barre au Sol Kniaseff trainer in 2018. She teaches at Tokyo Ballet High School, Tokyo Ballet Institute and JVBA’s Nagano camp, and serves on JVBA’s board.
- Andrei
OrlovRepresentative Director, JVBAAn honours graduate in ballet teaching and choreography, Andrei danced with the Udmurt State Theatre, Moscow City Ballet and Momoko Tani Ballet Company. Based in Japan since 2012, he teaches ballet and acting. He founded JVBA in 2018 as the Academy’s official Japanese partner and organises training and auditions while pursuing doctoral studies there.
- Kotono HoriuchiBallet Pianist
Kotono completed Tokyo College of Music’s piano postgraduate programme in 2020 and studied at London’s Royal Academy of Music on scholarship. In 2019, she reached the PTNA national finals and won Young Artist Competition gold. She accompanies Tokyo City Ballet and leading ballet studios, performs in ballet-music concerts, and continues her conducting training.
- Masako OgasawaraBallet Pianist
Seiko accompanies ballet and contemporary dance at Iwata Ballet, Inoue Ballet and Showa University of Music, where she lectures part-time. She composes contemporary dance music and arranged and choreographed Les Sylphides for an electronic quartet at its new-campus concert. She runs workshops with international guest teachers.
- 6 days
- Standard fee: US$2,000
- Early bird (by the end of November): US$1,800
- 21 lessons + final concert
- 12 days
- Standard fee: US$3,500
- Early bird (by the end of November): US$3,250
- 42 lessons + final concert
Additional Discounts
Students who have attended a JVBA event since last year’s Winter Intensive receive ¥30,000 off the standard fee when attending the full programme.
Sibling discount
Siblings applying together each receive ¥30,000 off the standard fee when attending the full programme.
Discounts cannot be combined. The maximum discount is ¥30,000.
Single-Day Participation
Applications for single-day participation open on 1 December.
Full-programme applicants have priority. Each class is limited to 20 students.
Open Classes for Teachers and Parents
Osaka: 7 January 2027
On the final day, both Groups A and B will hold open classes. Participants’ teachers and parents are welcome to observe both groups.
See Vaganova teachers at work and discover how training differs by age and level. This is an opportunity to understand your child’s current progress, next goals and possible path towards ballet study abroad.
Please refrain from eating, drinking, or entering and leaving during lessons, except in emergencies.
Application deadline: 22 December 2026. Registration closes earlier if capacity is reached.
Tokyo: Tatiana Kurenkova and Yulia Zaitseva
Osaka: Tatiana Solomyanko and Yulia Kamilova
Available only to Winter Intensive participants.
Audition for the Vaganova Ballet Academy Summer School in summer 2027.
Separate registration is required. Applications are accepted until the day before the audition.
Open to applicants who are not attending the Winter Intensive.
Auditions for full-time study at the Vaganova Ballet Academy are held during the intensive. This is an opportunity to audition in person instead of the usual video audition. Applications are accepted until the day before the audition.
Open to applicants who are not attending the Winter Intensive.
Private lessons, Summer School auditions and full-time study auditions require separate applications.
After applying for the intensive, use the relevant application buttons to register. Please contact us if you have any questions.
We offer staff support to help participants travelling from outside the area attend with confidence. An additional support fee applies.
Accommodation
We recommend hotels near the venues. Staff stay at the same hotel during the programme and accompany participants between the hotel and lesson venues.
Meals
Lunch and dinner are arranged during the programme.
Breakfast: hotel breakfast buffet
Lunch: packed lunch
Dinner: packed meal
Meals are included in the support fee, with no additional meal charge. Staff accompany participants at dinner.
One city, Tokyo or Osaka: US$350 plus accommodation.
Coverage: dinner on 25 December through lunch on 30 December, or dinner on 2 January through lunch on 7 January.
Both cities: US$650 plus accommodation.
Coverage: dinner on 25 December through lunch on 30 December, and dinner on 2 January through lunch on 7 January.
Hotels
Tokyo: Richmond Hotel Premier Musashikosugi (breakfast included)
3-1175-1 Shinmaruko Higashi, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-0004
Hotel website
5 minutes from Musashi-Kosugi Station on the Tokyu Toyoko and Meguro Lines; 2 minutes from the JR Yokosuka Line New South Gate; 6 minutes from the JR Nambu Line East Exit.
Accommodation: ¥109,200
Osaka: Shin-Osaka Esaka Tokyu REI Hotel (breakfast included), 2–4 January
9-6 Toyotsu-cho, Suita, Osaka 564-0051
Hotel website
1 minute from exits 4 and 9 of Esaka Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. By train: 4 minutes from Shin-Osaka and 11 minutes from Umeda.
Work Hotel Takatsuki (breakfast included), 4–7 January
8-7 Konya-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-0804
Hotel website
3 minutes from JR Takatsuki Station or Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station.
Osaka accommodation: ¥105,400
JVBA has reserved rooms. Select staff accompaniment when applying if you would like this support.
For applications from 27 November onwards, availability may require a change of hotel or room category, and accommodation costs may increase.
This is a busy period, and rooms may become difficult to secure. We recommend applying by 26 November to ensure accommodation.
Cancellations cannot be accepted after payment, regardless of the reason.
If the organisers (the Vaganova Ballet Academy or JVBA) decide to cancel the event, fees already paid will be refunded after deducting an administration fee of ¥3,300 (tax included).
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Tatiana’s classes included some challenging movements, and I learned a great deal. Sofia’s acting classes introduced experiences unlike my usual lessons, which felt fresh and rewarding.
My perspective on the Vaganova Method changed, and I realised how important it is to take an active approach to ballet.
I was nervous about meeting everyone at first, but we became friends as we helped one another prepare for the stage.
— M.N. (Group B) -
Tatiana’s classical classes helped me understand the features and movements of the Vaganova Method. There was so much to think about at the barre, and I took home many new lessons.
Even in a short time, I became better at making decisions and acting independently. I also learned to cooperate with friends while recognising that we may eventually compete with one another.
I attended for only two days, but became more aware of the Vaganova Method in my dancing and wanted to learn more.
— A.I. (Group B) - Watching older students stretch during warm-up was helpful. Learning challenging dances and hearing Russian spoken in class felt new and inspiring.
I became more aware of the details in my dancing, including accents and timing.
Being surrounded by skilled dancers made me nervous, but strengthened my desire to improve. Russian ballet felt closer, and working hard alongside new people increased my motivation.— F.M. (Group B) -
Acting classes were unfamiliar and confusing at first, but over time I learned to think about how to communicate through performance.
The classical teachers watched closely and gave me many corrections, so I learned a lot. The programme strengthened my desire to study at a Russian school.
In acting and repertoire classes, exchanging ideas and respecting one another made it easier to speak up and become friends quickly.
— C.A. (Group B) -
Solomyanko’s classes carefully explained correct muscle use and footwork. Even in just ten days, my dancing and technique improved.
I became more conscious of using my body correctly and learned the importance of looking after myself.
— M.T. (Group B) -
Tatiana’s foundation classes and Sofia’s mime classes made a lasting impression. My motivation increased and my understanding deepened.
I made new friends, and the final concert reminded me of the pleasure and joy of dancing.
— C.U. (Group B) -
I was happy to receive so many corrections from Sofia. At first, ten days seemed long, but it became more enjoyable and I wanted to keep going.
Acting classes were new to me and I was hesitant at first, but by the third day I was really enjoying them and wanted more.
— K.I. (Group A) -
The acting classes stood out because they are not part of my usual lessons. I began thinking about the meaning of expression in ballet and became more aware of looking after my health.
Learning so much that I do not normally study was a valuable experience. I am also grateful for the staff accompaniment service.
— N.T. (Group A)
- Leotard (a white camisole leotard for concert participants; no specified style for lessons)
- Tights and classical ballet shoes
- White tutu basque (Group B final-concert participants only)
- Character shoes (Group B only)
- Fan (Group B only)
- Black knee-length wrap skirt (Group B only)
- Practice tutu (concert participants only)
- Pens and notebook
- Yoga mat or large towel
- Name/number bib with English lettering
- Drinks and lunch
Packed lunches and dinners are provided to participants who book staff accompaniment.
Group A participants commuting from home should bring a light meal, such as rice balls.
Cancellations cannot be accepted after payment, regardless of the reason.
If the organisers (the Vaganova Ballet Academy or JVBA) decide to cancel the event, fees already paid will be refunded after deducting an administration fee of ¥3,300 (tax included).
