Born in Sofia, Kristina Grigorova began her ballet studies at the school of Sofia National Opera and Ballet. At the age of 14 she moved to Italy and continued her ballet studies at the National Academy of Dance in Rome and with étoile and maître de ballet Margarita Trayanova. In addition to dance, Kristina also studied piano.
In 1982 Mrs. Grigorova joined the company of the Theater Opera Roma, where she performed as a soloist and prima ballerina in many ballets, including: "Spartacus", cor. L. Massine, "Ma Pavlova", cor. R. Petit, "Pas de Quatre", cor. A. Alonso, "Allegro Brillante", cor. G. Balanchine, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", cor. P. Lacotte, etc.
In 1987 Kristina was chosen for the photos and the cover of the dance book "Technique of Classical Dance", by F. Pappacena.
In 1988 she began to work with the world famous Aterballetto company, directed by A. Amodio, participating in various productions and tours in Argentina and Brazil.
In 1991 Mrs. Grigorova participated in the summer season of the Teatro Arena di Verona, dancing in the ballet "Romeo and Juliet", cor. Cranko with C. Fracci and G. Iancu.
Meanwhile, she continued to dance as a guest soloist in various companies such as: Italian Dance Company (directed by C. Fracci), Balletto di Roma (directed by F. Bartolomei and W. Zappolini), Art Dance (E. Terabust and G. Vantaggio), Ballet de Temps Moderns (with V. Derevianko), etc.
From 1991 to 1996 Kristina danced with the company of Teatro alla Scala di Milano and soloist roles in "The Nutcracker", cor. R. Nureyev, "Pilar of Fire", cor. A. Tudor, "Il Tricorno", cor. L. Massine, "Etudes", cor. Lander, "The Sleeping Beauty", "Don Quixote" and more. Also with Teatro alla Scala di Milano, she participated in numerous tours in Italy and abroad, including Japan, Egypt and other countries.
from 1996 to 2004 Mrs. Grigorova danced in the Opera and Ballet Theater in Florence - Maggiodanza, where she performed as soloist and principal dancer in numerous productions, incl. "Swan Lake" (cor. Bourmeister), "Magnetic fields" (P. Decina), "Four songs" (cor. R. Van Danzig, "Who cares", "Serenade", "Concerto Barocco",, "Divertimento N. 15", "Theme and Variation", "Agon", "Four Temperaments" and "Apollon musagete", "QXK" (cor. T. Martin), "chairman" and "Chamber symphony" (cor. L. Childs), "E. Onegin" (cor. Cranko), "Sleeping Beauty" (cor. A. Holmes and cor. G. Montero), "Tout satie" (cor. R. Petit), "The Rite of Spring" (cor. J. Nuemeyer), "Sylphide" (cor. A. Bournonville), "Carmen - suite" (cor. A. Alonso), "Don Quixote" of V. Derevianko and many more.Currently, Mrs. Grigorova is an international ballet teacher of classical ballet and repertoire, also a guest teacher in masterclasses, workshops, dance intensives, exhibitions and commissions for ballet examinations and also judges in international ballet competitions in Italy, Germany, Spain, Hawaii, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, England, Brazil, Finland, Portugal and more. In 2025 Kristina is joining our team of esteemed adjudicators for Dance Grand Prix Special.
International teacher, jury
Damiano Bisozzi
International dancer, choreographer and director
Among his most important works are "Notre Dame de Paris", "Tosca" (by Lucio Dalla), "Dracula", "Giulietta e Romeo", "I Promessi Sposi", "Peter Pan", "Cindarella" with world tours, Hollywood film "Nine" directed by Rob Marshall (director of Chicago), "The Tourist" etc.
Damiano is jured in major European international festivals. Awarded by The Vatican Swiss Guards as "Italian Choreographic Talent".
Lately he was choreographer and director of the opera ballet "Alice in Wonderland", selling out in Romania and in Asia. He is also choreographer of the musical with world premiere in Bucharest of "Jack Pazzia e Amore" with international success.
Artistic director of the international competition Wladanza. His choreographies for students win on many prestigious international contests.
In November 2022 he was awarded in Rome as "European Choreographic Excellence".
Damiano Bisozzi, Internactional choreographer, director, guest-teacher, jury
Born on 22nd of April 2000 in Sofia, Margarita starts her professional training in 2011 at the National School of Dance Arts in Sofia with prof. L. Draguleva and later with F. Tcherneva, graduating in 2019 in the class of A. Tsolova. During her training she performs leading roles in Arlequinade, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Kermesse In Bruges teached by Dina Bjorn.
In the year of her graduation Mrs. Georgieva is invited to Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg to graduate in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in ballet pedagogy in the class of L. Komolova, M. Gribanova, N. Tarasova, V. Sirotin, N. Yananis. This makes her the first Bulgarian to ever graduate pedagogy in this prestigious academy. Margarita is currently persuing a masters program at Vaganova Academy.
Her stage career leads her to the Sofia Opera and Ballet, The Musical Theater Sofia and Arena Armeec. From 2019 to 2022 Margarita dances in the educational theater at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg. In 2018 takes part as dancer and speaker at TEDxVITOSHA.
As teacher, Margarita gives classes in classical ballet, character and historical dance in various prestigious academies, schools, incl. at the National School of Dance Arts, as well as numerous seminars, incl. Ballet Academy Mariyan, her own. She is a guest teacher at The Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera and assistant at Vaganova Academy.
Mrs. Georgieva has been awarded various prizes and in 2015 a full scholarship for education in Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle, USA.
She is often jury at numerous dance contests and festivals in Bulgaria and in Greece and in 2025 Margarita is joining our team of esteemed adjudicators for Dance Grand Prix Special.
Teacher at National School of Dance Arts, Bulgaria, The Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera and assistant at Vaganova Academy, guest-teacher, jury
Isabella McGuire Mayes
International dance coach and mentor
Isabella McGuire Mayes is a graduate of the Vaganova Academy and formerly danced with The Mikhailovsky Ballet and Eifman Ballet.
Isabella is now a full time coach and mentor to dancers all over the world both in person and via her online platform BWI helping them all achieve their goals.
Isabella McGuire Mayes, Jury, Mentor
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