VLADIMIR ISSAEV
SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL BALLET
2026 Graduates
We are proud to recognize our graduating students as they take the next step in their artistic and academic journey. We invite you to read their reflections, memories and words of gratitude as they celebrate this important milestone.
Ella Garcia
Hello everyone. My name is Ella Garcia and this is my tenth year at this studio. For as long as I
can remember, ballet has been a steady force in my life.
From the carefree days of elementary school to the escalation of academic focus in high school,
this studio has seen me through all my transition periods– mental and physical. I want to thank
my teachers: Mr. Vladimir, Ms. Giselle, Ms. Veronika, and Ms. Lusian for always being supportive of my endeavors in and out of the studio. If there’s anything I’ve learned throughout my time here, it’s the value of that consistency and that discipline. I do consider myself a disciplined person, but I would not have been able to nurture those skills without the level of rigor that is offered here.
My fondest memories in ballet, however, surround the stage. Getting ready before performances, exchanging glances onstage, and the mixed relief and joy after finishing yet another successful season. You ask any VISCB alumni, and I guarantee you that Nutcracker choreography is permanently engrained in their heads. I want to give my utmost gratitude to Maestro Vladimir, who provided me with the unique opportunity to experience the magic of performing on stage in front of an audience.
I was also able to expand my mind to other cultures when given the incredible opportunity to travel abroad to Denmark and Malaysia. Living with host families and bonding with dancers from across the world was an eye-opening experience and it really showed me how dance is a universal language.
After today’s performance, I am going to experience an abrupt shift. I still feel as though in a few weeks, I’m going to be sewing a new pair of pointe shoes for summer intensive. But that is not the case. Graduating from the studio that has so marked so much of my youth is disorienting, really. I can’t imagine separating from the mentors and fellow dancers that have been so
instrumental to my growth after all these years. But, my relationship to dance does not end here.
In the fall, I will be attending Brown University, where I will be majoring in Political Science. The skills that this studio has taught will push me through the next phase in my life. As I close this chapter, I want to once again thank my ballet family for everything they’ve done for me. Thank
you!
Christopher Noel
Good afternoon, everyone
Standing here tonight is truly very special to me. I have been training at the Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet since I was 4 years old, and it is hard to put into words how much this school has shaped my life. So many memories, lessons, and experiences were built within these studios.
I want to sincerely thank all of the teachers, staff, and my family for your patience, guidance and support throughout the years. Ms. Veronika, I am grateful for your passion and knowledge of Russian character dance. Ms. Giselle, your amazing, but very tiring, Cuban ballet style and the energy you brought into every class has left such an impact on me. Ms. Lusian, thank you for helping me grow through contemporary dance and explore movement in new ways. Mr. Remina, I truly appreciate all of your encouragement and dedication. Your training during male variations classes prepared me of several competitions around the world and helped me grow stronger and more confident as a dancer.
I would also like to recognize Ms. Ruby, Ms. Patricia, and Ms. Isa for your diligent efforts in helping run and support the entire school. Everything you do behind the scenes does not go unnoticed, and I am incredibly grateful.
I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Vladimir Issaev for believing in me from such a young age, constantly pushing me to improve, and giving me opportunities that I never could have imagined. Through this school, I was able to travel, perform, and experience the world, learning nothing short of discipline, resilience, and hard work that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
As I graduate, I am excited to share that I will be attending Florida International University on a pre-dental track. Although my next chapter will be different, ballet will always remain a part of me and the person I have become.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. I am forever grateful.
Sashka Saintil
Hello everyone. My name is Sashka Bijou-Saintil and it’s an honor to be here today. Standing here this afternoon is both exciting and emotional. For as long I can remember, ballet has been a part of my life. For 12 years this studio has been a place where I challenged myself, learned from my mistakes and grew into the person I am today. Ballet has taught me discipline, confidence, perseverance and lessons that extend far beyond dance. I want to thank my teachers Ms. Veronika, Ms. Lusian and Ms. Giselle. Thank you for your guidance, patience, and dedication. Each of you has played and important role in my journey and I am so grateful for the time and energy you have invested in me.
And in thinking about everyone who has influenced me here, one person stands out in a way I can’t ignore. Mr. Vladimir, thank you for believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself. There were moments when I doubted everything and you still saw potential in me that I couldn’t see yet. You shaped not only my technique but also my confidence and mindset. Your impact on my life goes far beyond dance and I will carry those lessons with me long after I leave this studio.
Lastly, I want to thank my parents. Thank you for every sacrifice, every drive to class, every recital, every costume and every moment support. Ballet may have been my dream, but you made in t possible. Even when I didn’t realize it, every step I took on stage was because of the love and support you gave me behind the scenes. As excited as I am for what’s next, it’s hard to say goodbye to something that has been such a big part of my life. Today may be my final bow as a ballet student, but the lessons, memories and friendships I gained here will stay with me forever. And while every dancer remembers their first bow, it’s the last one that stays with you the longest. Thank you.