Our Judges
Simona Noja Nebyla
Former Principal Dancer with the Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and the Opera National Romana Cluj-Napoca as well as a guest principal Dancer in many renowned companies such as:Teatro Colon,Finnish National Ballet,Bolschoi Theater, Mailänder Scala, Balletto dell’Opera di Roma, Dresdner Oper, Teatro San Carlo, Royal Swedish Ballet, Teatro Municipal Santiago de Chile, Stuttgarter Ballett, Frankfurter Ballett, Bayerische Staatsoper München.
Former Director of Ballet Academy of Vienna State Opera
Some of Simona Noja Nebyla accomplishments include :
1990: Silver Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, USA
2001: Award The best female dancer of the year 2001 from the international magazine "Danza & Danza "Italy
2002: The National Order Steaua României in the rank of Knight, Romania
2008: Das Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse, Austria
2012: The National Order Steaua României in the rank of Officer, Romania
Simona is the founder and director of the European Ballet Grand Prix in Vienna ; founder and director of the Grand Assamble European Ballet Festival in Romania and Noja-Nebyla Stage Education.
She is also Ambassador of the „Cluj-Napoca – European Capital of Culture 2021“ project.
Simona is a distinguished judge and teacher in many competitions and festivals around the world.
Quote “You are always a winner if your joy of dancing is bigger than the fear of failure!”
Misha Tchoupakov
Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Misha Tchoupakov has performed with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow as well as Colorado Ballet, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, San Francisco Opera Ballet in the U.S., and Vienna State Opera Ballet in Austria. He also holds an M.F.A. in Dance Pedagogy and Choreography from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and he has taught for Colorado Ballet, Houston Ballet, Oregon Dance Theatre, State Street Ballet, Ballet Arlington in the U.S.; Tokyo City Ballet in Japan;
Guangzhou Ballet in China; Galili Dance in the Netherlands; Cluj Opera Ballet and Sibiu Ballet Theatre in Romania; Cia Brasileira de Ballet and Teatro Municipal do Rio De Janeiro in Brazil; Ballet Nacional Sodre in Uruguay; and Tivoli Ballet Theater in Denmark.
He was also on the faculty of the Royal Ballet School, the Elmhurst School for Dance in Association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the English National Ballet School in the UK and served as Assistant Professor at the University of Utah Department of Ballet. Mr. Tchoupakov has been a member of the jury for many prestigious dance competitions around the world, such as PBK Ballet Competition in Kyoto, Japan; Domenico Modugno International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition in Lecce, Italy; FEDIFEST in Santos City, Brazil; La Stella di Domani in Catania, Italy; Salieri Danza in Verona, Italy and Playa del Carmen Dance Competition in Cancun, Mexico to name just a few.
For the past 23 seasons, he has worked with YAGP Ballet, and Contemporary Dance Competition in New York as Rehearsal Director, Judge, and Master Teacher and he is an internationally renowned guest teacher. Since 2013 Mr. Tchoupakov serves as Associate Professor of Ballet on the faculty of the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Aram Manukyan
Aram Manukyan is a graduate of the Armenian Choreography Academy where he studied the Vaganova method. His aptitude for teaching was recognized and he was selected for a scholarship at the Russian University of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Moscow. His career as a dancer include companies such as Armenian National Ballet, Ukrainian State Opera Ballet Theatre in Kharkov and Donetsk, Ballet International in Indianapolis, Cincinnati Ballet and Sarasota Ballet to name a few.
As a Master Teacher Mr. Manukyan has been on the faculty of many prestigious schools as well as on panel of judges of many international ballet competitions (YAGP Worldwide, Korea International Ballet Competition, Grand Prix Kiev in Ukraine to name a few).
His extensive experience as a professional dancer and his work around the world as a Master Teacher have enabled him to bring a unique perspective to the Alberta Ballet School where he has been teaching since 2007.
With the launch of Alberta Ballet II in July 2014, Mr. Manukyan was appointed the program's Director. And he is the Director of Alberta Ballet Trainee Program since 2017.
Alysson Rocha
Born in Rio de Janeiro, began his ballet education at the age of 6 at Petite Danse School of Dance with a scholarship from ONG “Dançar a Vida” Social Project, under the direction of Nelma Darzi.
Finalist at Youth America Grand Prix 2005, won a scholarship for San Francisco Ballet School, where he studied for two years.
At 16 years old, started to work under the Direction of Marcelo Misailidis, at Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.
From 2011-2013, Alysson was coached by Pedro Kraszczuk and Cecilia Kerche. In parallel, he was Choreographer and Artistic Coordinator of „Dancar a Vida Youth Company“, Rio de Janeiro.
In 2013, after attending the Job Fair of YAGP, Alysson was invited to join Ballett Dortmund in Germany, creating roles alongside his director Xin Peng Wang and performing pieces from William Forsythe, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Bubenicek and Demis Volpi.
In 2018, Mr. Rocha was appointed Ballet Master with Ballett Dortmund, assisting and keeping the pieces from Ballett Dortmund’s director, Alexander Ekman, Douglas Lee, Wubkje Kuindersma, Giuseppe Spota, Marijn Rademaker and William Forsythe.
Winner of the prize “Dortmunder Löwe 2019” for his “Silent Orchestra” dance/music project with deaf kids.
Since 2020, Mr. Rocha supervises the Professional Ballet Class CDs of Pascal Sévajols, former dancer and accompanist of Roland Petit, Ballett Dortmund and current pianist of the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Bordeaux.
In 2021, Alysson Rocha was appointed by Xin Peng Wang as First Ballet Master with the Ballett Dortmund and in 2022 and 2023 was also invited by Prof. Dr. Alkis Raftis to become a member of the International Dance Council of UNESCO.
Jade Hale Christofi
Is a British/American Director, Choreographer and Actor born and raised in North London, attending the Royal Ballet School at aged 11 and graduated at 19.
Jade fell in love with the art of movement watching his idol Carlos Acosta dancing on stage at the Royal Ballet. After honing his own ballet skills Jade left London to dance around the world in different companies gathering different understanding of dance and culture before starring the world renowned documentary Dancer 2015 with friend Sergei Polunin.
Jade Choreographed and co-edited his first dance video Take Me To Church starring Sergei Polunin music By Hozier capturing the world by storm in 2016 and showing the power of male ballet in the modern day.
Take Me To Church became the most viewed classical solo in history with over 34 Million views on YouTube alone as well as now being on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Jade realized the power of inspiring someone through dance and film and started choreographing pieces with clear goals of bringing ballet into the 21st century.
After choreographing some TV commercials, the worlds first 3D projected Opera and Videos including a Queen and Michael Jackson music video Jade also danced for Her Majesty The Queen in a private performance for The commonwealth Anniversary giving him a deeper understanding of how art can bring different cultures together.
In 2016 he moved to Los Angeles to study acting at the Actors Studio West under Martin Landau who became Jade’s mentor and guided him in to the world of film.
In 2019 Jade created his own production company HaleChristofiStudios directing and choreographing the video Surprise Yourself starring Kyle Allen showcasing 5 forms of dance in the story.
In 2020 Jade started choreographing a new classical solo The Spear Of Mars ,that was premiered at the Bolshoi theater in Moscow and aired on the First channel in Russia.
From the love of capturing art on screen Jade is set to be directing his first live movie in New York 2022 as well as filming his classical solo The Spear Of Mars to again try and inspire the eyes of the public pushing ballet to the future.
He also Co-founded a The Seasons Winter Gala, with the idea of bringing the very best dancers from around the world to showcase the best of ballet and contemporary dance for a world audience.
Jade also judges YAGP and teaches master classes all around the world in Classical ballet, Contemporary and Choreography, inspiring the next generation of artists.
Mais Júris serão anunciados Brevemente...
More Judjes will be announced soon...
"Júris de edições anteriores"
"Judges - previous editions"
Marek Rózycki
Marek was educated in the Poznan State Ballet School.
His first professional engagement was with the Polish Dance Theatre under Conrad Drzewiecki, who was at this time the most innovative choreographer of polish dance scene.
Further he was engaged with the Bremer Dance Theatre, Deutsche Oper Berlin Ballet and Ballet of the Staatsoper Berlin. His repertoire includes various roles from world famous classical and contemporary repertoire while he had the privilege to work with world famous classical and contemporary choreographers.
As first Ballet master and choreographic assistant he worked in Peter Schaufuss Dance Company in Denmark and Berlin Ballet Company of the Komische Oper Berlin where he was in the position of the Associate Artistic Director.
He is teaching ballet in Europe, Asia and both Americas and is desirable judge by the world renowned ballet competitions.
Presently he executes the position of Associate Artistic Director at the Berlin State Ballet School. He continues working with his other interest such as choreographing, guest teaching and collaborating with different Artist (Film, Photography, Art and Music).
Joni Österlund
Joni is a Contemporary Dancer and Choreographer from Finland.
He studied Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance at the Hungarian Dance Academy under the tutelage of: György Szakály, Gábor Keveházi, Tatiana Vdovicheva, Wieslaw Dudek, Tamás Topolánszky and Noemi Kulcsár.
He also studied Ballet, Modern, Pas de Deux, Mats Ek repertoire and creative improvisation at the Finish National Opera Ballet School.
Joni worked as a professional Dancer at: Finish National Ballet (Helsinki/Finland), Theatre Gárdonyi Géza & GG Eger Company (Hungary), Pori Dance Company(Finland).
Joni Österlund as been working as a guest Choreographer and Modern Dance Teacher in institutions all over the world such as: Dancearts Boris Nebyla Vienna(Choreographer/Teacher) , Podium Ballet School Hungary (Teacher), Dance School Nojonen Finland, European Dance Schools Festival Romania.
Presently Joni is working with the Opera in Basel Switzerland and continues his work as freelanced choreographer and dancer in Vienna Austria.
Mikhail Kaniskin
At the age of eight Kaniskin began dancing ballet at the Moscow State Academy . In 1995 he received a Prix de Lausanne scholarship and went to the Stuttgart Ballet where he later became a Principal Dancer.
After that he was Principal Dancer at State Ballet Berlin.
Mikhail Kaniskin is currently founder and Director of Berllet; Artistic Director at Elisa Carrillo Cabrera Foundation; artistic Director of Sir Anton Dolin Foundation Berlin.
He is a renowned Judge and Teacher.
Mikhail Kaniskin is often invited as a Guest Soloist in multiple Dance Galas and Ballets around the world.
He is also the Representative of Youth Grand Prix Germany the European Semifinal of the Largest and most prestigious dance competition in the world (Youth America Grand Prix).
Ingrida Svedunova
Ingrida Svedunova is a Russian dancer.
She completed her dance education at The National M.K.Čiurlionis School of Art and at the Inchicore College of Further Education.
Ingrida worked as a professional Ballerina at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre where she performed in a number of productions such as:Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Giselle, Blue Danube, Ana Karenina, Zorba the Greek, Snowhite and 7 dwarfs, Don Quixote, Tristan and Isolde, Red Giselle, Chipolino, Carmen, Barbora Radvilaite, Copelia, Ciurlionis, Snow Queen, Sleeping Beauty and La Sylphide.
She was a ballet teacher in :Primaballet Ireland, The Leinster School of Dance, Darcy Dance School, The Durban School of Dance, Olympus Dance and Music academy where she tough Ballet Classes, pointe work, RAD ballet and ISTD syllabus.
Michael Raynaud
Michael Raynaud started dancing at seven years old in the south of France before beginning his formal training at The Paris Opera Ballet School at the age of ten. Whilst at the School, Michael performed all over the world touring to Japan, New York, Greece and France. Michael went on to train at the National Conservatoire in Paris, where he gained his Arts Baccalauréat and Unités de Valeurs in anatomy, Ballet history and musicality.
Michael Raynaud joined the English National Ballet for their worldwide tour of Swan Lake and then became a permanent member of the company, performing many roles in all the company’s Repertoire, from Rudolph Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet to Derek Deane’s Swan Lake ,Michael Corder’s Cinderella,Harald Lander’s Etudes and Kenneth Macmillan’s Rite of Spring.
Michael is now a renowned ballet teacher and works all over the world with students of all ages. He was Associate Tutor for Ballet studies at the Guildford School of Acting at Surrey University and ballet teacher at the London Boys Ballet School, London Junior/Senior Ballet at ArtsEd, for Professional Dance Experience in Leeds, and regular guest teaching worldwide.
Upon graduating from the Royal Academy of Dance Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma, Michael was invited to teach workshops and summer schools at the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters in London and throughout Europe.
He currently teaches at the Kings International Ballet Academy in the UK.
Hugo Vieira
Hugo Viera was born in 1974.
He completed his training at the School of Dance at the National Conservatory in Lisbon and, later, with Rosella Hightower, in Cannes, before joining the National Ballet Company and, subsequently, CeDeCe, Richard Alston Dance Company, Braunschweig Ballett and the Karlsruhe Ballet.
He was a guest dancer at several international companies.
After an extensive career as an interpreter, Hugo Viera dedicates himself exclusively to choreography and creating shows. As a young choreographer, he was one of the finalists in the Hannover International Competition for Choreographers and the Solo Tanz Festival in Stuttgart, he also participated in the Macao International Arts Festival and created POINTS OF YOU for the Noverre Gesellschaft and the Stuttgart Ballet. Since then, as an independent choreographer, he has created several pieces that have been on stage in several countries, being acclaimed by the international press.
He staged and choreographed the musicals JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Innsbruck - Austria), FRANKENSTEIN (Ingolstadt-Germany) and the opera “AMOR TRIUNFANTE” (Celle).
The play FADO = SCHICKSAL received the prize for ‘The Best Production of the Year’ by the Theater und Philarmonie de Thüringen (2010) and the Oscars of the German Theater (2011).
In 2014, his work Heaven´s Here was distinguished by the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia with the national award for Excellence in the Arts.
Together with the dancer Ana Lacerda, he is the founder and artistic director of the Ballet Contemporâneo do Oeste.