Meet
Our Faculty
Oksana Vasilieva
Founder and Artistic Director
Oksana Vasilieva is an internationally respected ballet educator and coach whose career reflects the artistry, discipline, and refinement of Moscow’s classical tradition. As Founder and Artistic Director of the Universal Conservatory of Ballet (UCOFB) in Sacramento, California, she is dedicated to providing authentic Vaganova-based training that blends precision, musicality, and mindful body mechanics.
Born and raised in Moscow, Ms. Vasilieva graduated from the Ledyakh School of Classical Ballet in 1996 and earned her degree in Pedagogy and Choreography from the Moscow Institute of Contemporary Art. For more than a decade, she performed with the Moscow State Theatre of Classical Choreography, dancing both classical and contemporary repertoire, including Stanton Welch’s Green (2000) alongside Bolshoi Ballet stars Nina Ananiashvili, Sergey Filin, and Dmitry Belogolovtsev.
Pedagogical Foundation and Education
Ms. Vasilieva’s teaching is grounded in the authentic Vaganova methodology, refined through advanced certifications at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (2011, 2017) and the Moscow State Academy of Choreography (2016). Her approach combines the classical discipline of precise placement with a modern understanding of anatomy and kinesiology, helping dancers build lasting strength and healthy technique.
Student Achievements
From 2008 to 2020, Ms. Vasilieva served as a senior ballet teacher at the Ledyakh School of Classical Ballet in Moscow, where she directed four state graduation exams and trained numerous prize-winning students. Her coaching has produced exceptional results at international competitions, including Youth America Grand Prix (Paris) – 1st Place Pas de Deux, Dance Moscow – 2nd Place, and multiple Top 3 and Top 12 placements at YAGP Finals. In 2019, she coached her son Maxim Apatonov to a YAGP 1st Place Pas de Deux in Paris, and more recently, one of her students received the YAGP Hope Award for exceptional promise and artistry.
Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Individual Approach
A certified ballet pedagogue with advanced knowledge of biomechanics, Ms. Vasilieva is known for her diagnostic precision in identifying structural imbalances and technical obstacles. She develops individualized correction plans that restore balance, alignment, and coordination — allowing dancers to progress with confidence, grace, and physical longevity.
Pointe Development and Safe Technique
Specializing in pointe development and lower-limb conditioning, she guides students through every stage of pointe training with meticulous care. Her understanding of how the body adapts to pointe work enables her to match each dancer’s needs with the right preparation, shoe structure, and progression plan, ensuring both safety and expressive strength.
Philosophy of Movement
At the Universal Conservatory of Ballet, Ms. Vasilieva and Mr. Serobian cultivate an environment where structure and creativity coexist. Her philosophy centers on awareness — teaching that artistry begins not with performance, but with presence, control, and inner calm.
“The body remembers truth — when placement is correct, movement becomes effortless.”
— Oksana Vasilieva
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