Community Engagement Testimonials

2019 Dance with Us

~ Dear Moscow Ballet,

I would like to share something with you to brighten your day. Our studio is located in a very diverse area, we have students of every skin shade, with me being British, I'm fond of calling it the United Nations of Dance. An emotional Hispanic father approached me last night at the Great Russian Nutcracker performance. His 9-year-old daughter Maddy had danced the role of a Russian sentinel, her first Nutcracker. Teary eyed, he thanked us and said he just couldn't get it out of his mind, that he was sitting there watching amazing Russian dancers and there was his young daughter, dancing with them onstage, he couldn't believe it!

This is the legacy of Akiva and Mary Talmi, giving these children an experience and opportunity that they would never have otherwise - and why we all do what we do, because we all see the results.  Thank you Sharon and your whole team, we wish you all a Merry, and busy, Christmas.

Gwen and Toby, Host Dance Studio Owners, Dallas, TX

2019 Wunderkind Choir

~ Dear Moscow Ballet,

Everything was absolutely lovely at our live performance at Spokane’s First Interstate Center! The Crescendo Community Chorus kids had a wonderful time. It couldn't have gone any better… Caroling near the entrance also worked well. Overall, it was a great afternoon! 

Thank you for giving us a lovely day out to enjoy the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker as the Musical Wunderkind Choir.  We will look forward to the opportunity to do it again!

Jessica Eggers, Crescendo Community Chorus, Spokane, WA

2018 New Horizons

~ “Just a quick post-event note to thank you all.  Thank you for your time and talents!  It was a pleasure working with you, and the kids loved dancing with you.”

Michelle Massey, The Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis, MN

2018 New Horizons 

~ “It was a lovely event. Thank you Mariia and to all others involved. The kids really enjoyed the special opportunity.”

Theresa Weaver-Basye, Sioux City Musuem, Sioux City, IA

2017 DANCE WITH US

~ I know from watching my students grow and advance since the very first Moscow Ballet tour, that this is one of the most significant experiences a young dancer can have. It lifts them up and humbles them all at the same time.”

Syracuse Moscow Ballet Host Studio Owner Cathy Napolitano-Mucci, Dance Center North, has hosted Great Russian Nutcracker auditions every year since 1993!

2017 UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT

~ “Thank you so very much for working with Midway ISD!  You and your crew were absolutely wonderful to work with and “my” hodgepodge crew of college students had an exceptional and educational experience. I appreciate your willingness to work with young people who are considering Theatre or Technical Theatre as a profession. Most are university students and only get to work on one major production per semester and being able to have real responsibility and see the immediate “fruits of their labor” was quite a thrill to them. I know that they all benefitted from your expertise as well as your patience. 

Thanks again for all that you do to promote ART in smaller communities such as Waco and what you do for theatre education.” 

Darrell Umhoefer, Waco, TX

2017 NEW HORIZONS - A CHILDREN’S PROGRAM FOR LIFE

~ “I cannot thank you enough for allowing our students this opportunity.  It was truly magical for all!  The children were mesmerized and enthralled by this performance.  They were literally grateful for every "opportunity" to applaud the performers.  At the start of the performance they were cheering out-loud with great enthusiasm.  Their teachers redirected them to clap, which they did.  By the end of the show, they were so excited, they reverted back to their out-loud cheers.  It was precious! At the end of the show, an older patron approached me to say "The best part of the show was watching our student's pleasure! We are extremely grateful to you for this very generous gift.  None of the children had ever been to a ballet before.  This was a life-changer!”  

Jan Martin, Penn State STEAM Director, York, PA

2016 DANCE WITH US

~ From all of us at Fleur-De-Lis Academy of Ballet in Louisville we are sending you a huge thank you!  What a fantastic experience from start to finish.  The students are still on cloud 9 from being backstage and onstage with such talented dancers as you have.  Their inspiration tank has been filled! The professionalism from MB was everything our students needed to see in order to realize exactly what it is like at the professional level.  Working with you and your team was seamless in every way. Thank you for bringing the magic to Louisville!

Ariadne and Declan, Fleur De Lis Academy of Ballet, Louisville, KY

2015 WUNDERKIND

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a wonderful 2016! Our son Benjamin had a great experience playing the violin solo for the Dying Swan for the beginning of the December 24 Great Russian Nutcracker in North Charleston. It was a magical experience for Benjamin, and we thought he played his best.

Damian Kremer (Benjamin's father), Charleston, SC

 2015 Moscow Ballet COSTUMES

~ Thank you for inspiring my career path!

Hello! My name is Caroline Smouse and I am a junior fiber major with concentrations in illustration and experimental fashion at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). I also danced with the Baltimore children's cast in the Great Russian Nutcracker for seven years which brings me to message you. Arthur Oliver’s work is ultimately what inspired me to study costuming! I was always so blown away by the intricacy of the costumes and the glorious way they move on the bodies of the performers. The Dove costume is absolutely breathtaking and I remember dancing as a Snow Maiden alongside the Dove and being absolutely memorized. These costumes became such a huge part of my creative development and I wanted to thank you for being such a huge inspiration.

Caroline Smouse, Baltimore, MD

2015 ERIC CHO PERFORMED AS MOSCOW BALLET MUSICAL WUNDERKIND IN ST. LOUIS

~ It was an amazing experience for Eric and our family. Thank you so much again for giving the chance to him to accompany the Principal Ballerina and taking care of all the process. I want to say to we appreciate all the staff who supported Eric as well.

Happy holiday season!

Vicky, St. Louis, MD

 2015 TESTIMONIAL FROM THE VILLAGES, FL

~ What a magnificent performance!!! One of the most wonderful nights of my life (and I'm 65). I saw Great Russian Nutcracker at The Sharon Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida on Monday November 9, 2015. I expected the show to be professional and colorful, but you far exceeded my expectations. The dancing, costumes and quick changes, the backdrop scenery changing, the snow, the toys, the colors the pageantry, the whole thing was magical and intoxicating. Please feel free to use all my words on your web site. I am still just bubbling over with excitement (like a 65 year old kid)!

Ann, The Villages, FL

2015 MUSICAL WUNDERKIND CHOIR 

~ The Musical Wunderkind – Choir was a wonderful experience for the kids. Most of them had never seen an entire Nutcracker production, and the ones who had, had never seen a professional production. It was excellent. At the time you and I talked about it, I didn't really fully appreciate the gift it was to have the kids see it. I do now, and thank you for that. Their parents were also thrilled with the performance and very proud of our kids. So I thank you, and the Moscow Ballet, for this opportunity. It is a good collaboration to offer young people.

Diane Simons, South Bay Children’s Choir, Los Angeles, CA

2014 DANCE WITH US

~ The show was really wonderful. Each year the costumes get more exquisite in their details, the dancers more beautiful, the scenery more dazzling - it was great. Our young dancers received many compliments from the Moscow Ballet company, and everyone was friendly and congenial, from the wardrobe mistress and stage crew, to the dancers and road crew,… it was a most positive experience for all of us in Dallas 

Gwen Owens, London School of Dance, Dallas, TX

2014 MOSCOW BALLET GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER IN PADUCAH

~ Paducah appreciates Moscow Ballet's support of the Paducah based Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation and their education efforts. To mark this occasion, I proclaim it Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker Day in Paducah.

Click here to read full proclamation

2013 MUSICAL WUNDERKIND

~ The performance went wonderfully tonight! I was so excited and honored to be performing with the principal ballerina [as Moscow Ballet Musical Wunderkind!] My family and I also very much enjoyed the show afterwards. What phenomenal dancers, costumes, and settings! Thank you so much.

Annelle Gregory, Los Angeles, CA

2013 NEW HORIZONS

~ Thank you for all that you have done to make the Moscow Ballet event happen. Wow! What a job! Svetlana…did a great job with the students. Parents have told me that it is all their children would talk about when they picked them up from school. I wish you could have seen the eyes of the children and could have heard the squeals and applause. Please know how much everyone in our school district appreciates this marvelous experience. Thanks again!

Eleanor Powers, Director, Ellis Performing Arts Center, Latta,SC

2013 MASTER CLASSES

~ "I thought the experience of having a first class ballerina modeling was very special for all the different majors involved. Svetlana was a hit with the drawing and photography students. It was a thrilling and professional interaction between the ballerina and the students. I'm looking forward to the Moscow Ballet and MICA participating in another terrific collaboration."

Professor Rex R. Stevens Chair, Drawing & General Fine Arts departments Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD

2013 WHITE HOUSE LETTER OF APPRECIATION

~ "We hope you take pride in your contributions to the world of ballet, and we appreciate your thoughtful gesture." President Barack Obama

Click here to read full letter

2012 PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS

~ "We were so pleased with the results of this day of immersion that we are bringing four Moscow Ballet dancers to the PLACE centers for 6 weeks this summer where we will expand to a full week of immersion for every PLACE child in Pasco County!"

Click here to read entire testimonial

1835 HOUSE AT RECOVERY ACRES RECOMMENDS MOSCOW BALLET 

~ "The 1835 House at Recovery Acres strongly reccomends this program to any and all charitable organizations looking to raise money for a good cause or simply make headlines for their group."

Click here for the full testimonial

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER APPRECIATION LETTER 

~ "The Event was terrific, great seats and our supporters thought the event was a remarkable performance."

Click here to read full letter

RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL APPRECIATION LETTER 

~ "We can’t thank you enough for choosing Hasbro Children’s Hospital to affiliate with for this memorable performance of “The Nutcracker.”

Click here to see full letter

FIRST LADY ACCEPTS HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF ''CYNTHIA GREGORYTHE CELEBRATION TOUR'' 

~ "On behalf of Mrs. Reagan, I am pleased to inform you that the First Lady has accepted yout thoughtful invitation to serve as the Honorary Chairman of "Cynthia Gregory The Celebration Tour."

Click here to read full article

NANCY REAGAN'S LETTER TO CYNTHIA GREGORY 

~ "I am Delighted to extend my warnest greetings to you as you continue your "Celebration Tour." It is my pleasure to serve as Honorary Chairman of the benefit to fight drugs and alcohol abuse among our young people" 

Click here to read full letter