Dance Teachers

Ivan Dinev

Classical Dance, Pas de Deux, Body Conditioning

« I would like to teach my students honesty and the importance of hard work and discipline. In addition I tell them to always keep a positive attitude toward themselves and the world.”

Nationality Bulgaria
Education
Sofia State Dance Academy, Bulgaria
Engagements
Czech National Ballet
Scottish Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet School
Awards
Silver medal, New York International Ballet Competition, 1996
Gold medal, National Bulgarian Competitions, 1992
Honour Award, International Ballet Competition Varna, 1992
At taZ since 2015

image: portrait of Ivan Dinev

    Christina Gehrig

    Creative Expression,  Improvisation & Composition

    "I wish that our taZ students discover their creative potential through improvisation, with joy, passion and curiosity. That they find their personal language in dance and are able to assert themselves in the world as strong artists."

    Nationality Switzerland
    Education
    Dance/dance education/ choreography, Codarts Rotterdam
    Engagements
    Dancer and performer at various international productions, among them: Swiss + sexy, Oona Project, Theaterhaus Gessnerallee Zurich; Streamextreme, Hideto Heshiki – Tanzhaus Zurich; Heaven, Tin Box Company Arhus, Kopenhagen
    Choreographer for various international productions, among them: LessMess, Tanzhaus Zurich/ Machol Shalem Festival Jerusalem/Tel Aviv; Tiefenrausch, Lantaren Fenster, Rotterdam, Tour in NL; Peninsulae,Theater Korzo Den Haag
    Scholarships & Awards
    Cultural award, div. Dance, City of Zurich, 2008; artist laboratory CH & NRW, Dusseldorf, 2004; Choreographer at SiWiC Zurich, 2003; Dutch Award of the Prince-Bernhard Fonds, 2000    
    Further experience
    Guest lecturer, ZHdK Zurich; ance educator at various national and international institutions; co-founder, «Echt stark» dance projects for the Schule/Schule & Kultur Zürich/Schukulu Luzern; dance education team, dance festival “Steps”
    At taZ since 2009

    Christina Gehrig

    Tina Goldin

    Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Repertoire

    "It is my goal in life to pass on my own knowledge and experiences. I hope to be a role model for our students, perhaps also give them some orientation for their future lives."

    Nationality Russia
    Education
    Perm Opera Ballet Theater, Russia
    Moscow State Academy of Choreography, diploma as ballet master and instructor
    Engagements / Positions
    Dancer:
    Tscheljabinsk Opera House, Russia
    Ballett Yevgeny Panfilov, Perm, Russia
    Israel Ballett, Tel Aviv
    Stadt Theater Bonn (Guest)
    Stadt Theater Trier
    Ballet instructor:
    State Ballet School, Perm, Russia
    Methodical coaching for instructors, seminars in Italy and Israel.
    At taZ since 2007

    Image: portrait of Tina Goldin

    Arlette Kunz

    Contemporary Dance, Graham, Improvisation

    «I would like to show our students, that each movement always has to spring from a strong inner motivation. Dancer personalities need a clear focus paired with curiosity, passion, courage and resilience. »

    Nationality Switzerland
    Education
    CH-Tanztheater Zurich
    London Contemporary Dance School
    Engagements / Jobs
    CH-Tanztheater Zurich
    Arc Dance Company London
    Ventura Dance Company, London, Madrid, Zurich
    Other experience
    Project management, Ventura Dance Company
    Costume design, Ventura Dance Company
    Artistic director, GAB, ABO, K&S JP & OC / Tanzwerk 101
    At taZ since 2003

    Arlette Kunz

      Roberta Martins

      Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Classical Repertoire

      “Everything our students learn will be the base for their future as a dancer and as a person. I want to inspire them to cherish every moment spent dancing.”

      Nationality Brasil
      Education
      Ballet School Opera Leipzig
      Engagements
      Soloist at: Leipzig Ballet; Volkstheater Rostock; Anhaltisches Theater Dessau; Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe; National Ballet of Portugal; Ballet Zurich; West Australian Ballet
      Choreography
      Ballet Zurich, «Romance für Alice Herz-Sommer»
      Accomplishments
      Stipend, Royal Academy of Dance, Winter Course
      Stipend, Leipzig Ballet School
      Bronze, V International Wettbewerb Brasil
      At taZ since 2015

      Roberta Martins

        Christopher Powney

        Teacher in residence until summer 2025
        Classical Dance, Variations, Pas de Deux

        “I look forward to returning to the studio and to teach a new generation of talented students from the ZHdK, working with them to build strong foundations technically and artistically. My hope is to ignite their curiosity in the learning process, encouraging them as confident, versatile artists ready for the profession.”

        Nationality
        British
        Education
        Alumni, Windsor Leadership Programme 
        Harvard Leadership (short course) 
        Diploma in Dance, Middlesex University 
        Diploma in Professional Dance teaching, The Royal Ballet School 
        Engagements / Jobs
        Artistic Director & CEO, The Royal Ballet School, London
        Artistic Director, Nationale Ballet Academie, Amsterdam 
        Artistic Director, Dutch National Ballet Academy, Netherlands
        Graduate Teacher, Royal Conservatoire, Netherlands
        Teacher, The Royal Ballet Upper School, United Kingdom
        Assistant Artistic Director, Central School of Ballet’s graduate touring company
        Accomplishments
        Co-founded The Dutch National Ballet Junior Company 
        Managed the Dutch National Ballet Academy into the Prix de Lausanne Partnership programme
        Launched the inaugural aDvANCE conference, bringing together international directors to address dance cultural challenges 
        Olivier Award, shared with dancers of Rambert Dance Company
        At taZ 
        for the school year 2024/2025

        Christopher Powney

          Àkos Sebestyén

          Classical Dance, Pas de deus, Repertoire, Body Conditioning, preparation for competitions

          “Through dance, I have experienced many beautiful moments – on and off-stage. I hope to pass on this passion for dance to my students.”

          Nationality Hungary
          Education
          Hungarian State Ballet School
          Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg
          Master of Advanced Studies in Dance Education, focus on Classical Ballet, ZHdK Zurich
          Engagements / Jobs
          Györi Ballet
          State Opera Vienna
          Soloist, Ballett Zurich
          Accomplishments
          Scholarship, Vaganova Ballet Academy, 1991
          Choreograph, “Feelings” for the Young Choreographers, Zurich Opera House
          Choreograph, taZ summer performance “fussspuren” – “Und dann und wann eine Lilie weiss ...”
          Jury member and guest instructor at various competitions, companies, and schools.
          At taZ since 2009

          Picture: Portrait of Akos Sebestyen

            Risa Yajima-Boisnon

            Classical Dance, Pointe Dance, Repertoire

            "I would like to teach to my students the classical step material and its meaning. Once they know these basics by heart, they will gain so much freedom for their personal artistic development. "

            Nationality German
            Education
            Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Cologne
            Royal Ballet School London
            Ballettschule des Hamburg Ballett
            Dance Education, Nachdiplom FH, Classical Dance, Zurich
            Master of Advanced Studies ZFH in Dance Education, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
            Engagements
            Theater Bonn
            Deutsche Oper am Rhein
            Royal Ballet of Flanders
            Solistin, Ballett der Sächsischen Staatsoper Dresden
            Leipzig Ballet
            Zurich Ballet 
            Further experience
            Guest instructor at various companies, schools and courses
            2010 preparation, Prix de Lausanne
            Guest ballet master for Alexei Ratmansky`s Rekonstruktion Schwanensee (students)
            At taZ since 2022

            Image: Portrait of Risa Yajima-Boisnon