ANNA REZNIK (Director, A&A BALLET)
Anna Reznik is the former Founding Artistic Director of the Joffrey Academy and the Joffrey Studio Company (2009-2016). In a very short time, she established the Academy as one of the most innovative and fast-growing dance organizations worldwide.
She began her career in Moscow at the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Degree of Ballet Artist) and the Bolshoi Institute of Choreography (Degree in Pedagogy). Ms. Reznik toured throughout the world as a Principal Artist with the Moscow Festival Ballet (later the Russian National Ballet), England's Northern Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, BalletMet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and the Russian and European Stars of the Ballet. Her performances received rave reviews in the New York Times, Los Angels Times, Dance Magazine and La Danse de Paris.
Ms. Reznik has won numerous awards, including a Special Diaghilev Prize, Silver Medal at the 1996 Lifar International Ballet Competition, as well as the top prize at the 1996 Nureyev International Ballet Competition and the 1996 Maya International Ballet Competition.
Ms. Reznik was featured nationwide in the PBS Holiday Specials "Love is Here to Stay" and "A Family Thanksgiving". In 2002, Ms. Reznik was recognized as one of the most influential people in the Arts in Cincinnati. She has been praised for her extraordinary ability to work with today's young dancers.
Her thorough knowledge of the most current teaching methods and styles has produced many dancers who have been accepted into some of the most prestigious companies worldwide, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Staatsoper Berlin, Dresden Semperoper, Norwegian National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Polish National Ballet, Estonian National Ballet, New Zealand Royal Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Met, Kansas City Ballet, Pittsburg Ballet Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Ballet San Jose, Tulsa Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dortmund Ballet, Complexions and many others.
In 2007, 2017 and 2018 Ms. Reznik received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the YAGP. Under her leadership, the Southold Dance Theatre was named Outstanding School at YAGP in 2008. The Joffrey Academy of Dance claimed the same title at YAGP every year they participated: 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. Ms. Reznik also received the Achievement Award in Culture from the Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI).