claire della penna

Miss Claire’s journey into the world of ballet began at Allegro School of Dance where she took her first ballet class at the age of 6. What started as a childhood curiosity quickly evolved into a profound passion.  She was later invited into the competitive program at Allegro School of Dance where her love for ballet deepened. Furthering her training, Claire was soon accepted into the professional full-time program at Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C working with renowned Vaganova-trained teachers such as Ninel Cherevko, Runqiao Du and Vladimir Djouloukhadze. Her growing fascination with ballet led Claire to explore various styles, but it was the Russian method that truly captivated her heart which led to her acceptances into some of the most prestigious and world-renowned ballet academies in Russia. In 2021, her dedication and talent were recognized when she was accepted into the prestigious Vaganova Academy Summer Program in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the instruction of former Mariinsky Ballet dancers such as Sofia Gumerova, Yulia Kasenkova and Galina Enikeeva. Immersed in the intensive training in the Vaganova method, her exceptional performance during the summer program led to an invitation to join the year-round program at the Vaganova Academy. The following year, Claire’s remarkable progress caught the attention of another renowned institution. Claire was accepted into the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, where she received her diploma upon graduating from her ballet training there. The rigorous curriculum and the opportunity to study under esteemed instructors at one of the world’s premier ballet institutions allowed her to perform excerpts from La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote and many more.  Since then, Claire has spent time at the National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Jörgen, and the Finnish National Ballet. Claire strives to instill the same love for ballet in her students that ignited her own journey!