Rafael Grigorian Ballet School & Performing Company
The Region's Premiere Ballet School and Company
Rafael Grigorian Ballet School & Performing Company
The Region's Premiere Ballet School and Company
Founder & Ballet Instructor | Master Rafael Grigorian
Master Grigorian was trained at the Baku Choreographic Institute and the Kirov Ballet School. For twenty years, he was the Premier and the Principle dancer with the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named Akhundov, Baku, Azerbaijan and former USSR dancer in lead roles in ballets such as Don Quixote, Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker much more. Several ballets were made expressly for Master Grigorian. As a performer, he toured the world with the Bolshoi and the Kirov Ballet Companies, and the Moscow Ballet Festival.
Master Grigorian was awarded two highly prestigious awards for his performance: The People's Artist of Azerbaijan and Laureate of State Prize of the USSR; both considered highly extraordinary honors for an artist.
Master Grigorian was also a tutor for the Moscow Theatre Studio of Musical Art, and a choreographer for the Russian Ice Dancing groups, many of which became European, world, and Olympic Champions.
By the invitation of the American composer William Perry, Master Grigorian served as the choreographer for the Russian Stars Ensemble in the Mark Twain Musical Drama from 1985-1995. In 1991, He opened the Rafael Grigorian School of Classical Ballet in the Elmira and Corning area of NY. In 1998, the school expanded to the Binghamton area.
Master Grigorian teaches students the high level of the art of ballet, which is demonstrated in the productions and recognize not only by the admiring audience. The Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes of NY have recently honored Master Grigorian with an award for his outstanding work the community.
Master Grigorian has staged three full-length ballets for the the Buffalo Ballet and the Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo, NY (Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, and Baba Yaga). He also staged Sleeping Beauty for the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Master Grigorian has staged The Nutcracker in Nagaoy, Japan. He was a guest instructor at the Lexington Ballet in Kentucky, and he choreographed the dream scene of Hansel and Gretel in the Tri-Cities Opera productions of La Traviata and Magic Flute, In Binghamton, NY. Master Grigorian has taught master classes at the Ballet Classique in Reykjavik, Iceland. Currently, he teaches master classes at CPYB, Ballet Academy East in New York City, Ithaca College, Ithaca Ballet Center, Alfred Ballet Academy, New York Ballet Academy, the Peabody Institute of Maryland, Wilmington, North Carolina Ballet, and Dance Conservatory of Central Pennsylvania, State College, PA.
Master Grigorian is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer of the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre (RGBT), a non-profit dance company since 1994. He has staged numerous full-length ballets and many short, eclectic, pieces. The RGBT's repertoire under the leadership includes Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, Baba Yaga Cipollino, The Nutcracker, Paquita, Lovely, Carmen and many more.
Under Master Grigorian's Directorship, Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre holds the honor of being the resident dance company of the Clemens Center in Elmira, NY.
Assistant Director & Ballet Instructor | Alicia Mantey
Alicia Mantey was one of Mr. Grigorian’s first students when he opened the Rafael Grigorian School of Classical Ballet in the early 1990s. From a young age, she trained in the classical tradition under his direction and performed with Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre (RGBT), appearing in full-length productions and developing a strong ballet foundation rooted in artistry, musicality, and discipline. Her lead and featured roles with RGBT include Masha, Spanish, Shepherdess, and Arabian in The Nutcracker; Step-Sister and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella; Vassilisa in Baba Yaga; and many others.
Alicia attended Mercyhurst University (formerly Mercyhurst College), graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology. While at Mercyhurst, she performed extensively through the college dance program, including Elegy Girl in Serenade, featured roles in Coppélia and Paquita, and original works staged by faculty under the direction of Tauna Hunter. During college, she danced with Lake Erie Ballet, performing the lead Arabian role in The Nutcracker and appearing in original ballets such as Peter and the Wolf.
Alicia attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) summer intensives for two consecutive summers, gaining advanced classical training in her youth. She also attended summer intensives at the Washington Ballet during college, where she was featured in the intensive production, performing the role of Tiger Lily in Peter Pan.
Since 2012, Alicia has returned to the Rafael Grigorian School of Classical Ballet as a faculty member. She serves as Assistant Director of the non-profit RGBT and Ballet Instructor, teaching and coaching dancers of all ages and levels. She has also served in leadership roles for productions including The Nutcracker, Baba Yaga, Cinderella, and Cipollino. Many of her students have gone on to pursue collegiate dance programs and professional careers.
Alicia is deeply committed to carrying forward Master Grigorian’s mission of cultivating artistry, discipline, and a lifelong love of classical ballet..