Yana Lewis

Yana is the principal instructor in the Academy.
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Martin Gattuso

Martin is a dancer/teacher with vast and varied experience. Realising that his dancing days were not quite over yet, he joined the Academy in July 2011. He studied classical ballet in the Vaganova and R.A.D. styles at the prestigious Central School of Ballet in London. Martin was fortunate enough to be able to study under, amongst others, Terrence Etheridge, Christopher Gable, Murray Kilgour and Frank Freeman – all eminent, international teachers.

After graduating in 1997, Martin danced several roles with two leading ballet companies: Vienna City Ballet, Germany, and P.A.C.T. Ballet, South Africa. Since taking a few years break to attain a degree in Japanese studies from Durham University, Martin has performed leading roles in classical, contemporary, and even musical theatre productions in the UK and Japan.

Martin’s teaching experience spans Europe and Asia with engagements at the Footlights Dance Studio, UK; Brighten Kids International School, Japan; The Youth Theatre of Japan; the Kanda Ballet Studio; and the Aiko Seaman Ballet Studio. He has the ability to make dance fun as well as extremely technical and disciplined. Along with a solid understanding of dance, he brings to his classes an inspiring sense of musicality.

Martin is honoured to have been selected by such a well-regarded and visionary teacher as Yana Lewis; and is excited  to be part of the project of bringing genuine classical ballet to India.

Siddananda Babbur Mutt

Sid joined the school in May 2004 as a student and underwent rigorous Ballet training in the Academy. Sid joined the Company in 2007 and is now a Soloist. Sid also enrolled for Teacher training to pursue his passion for teaching and successfully cleared the Intermediate level ISTD Vocational Graded Exam in December 2007. Sid’s classes are marked by focus on technique and detail. In the last few years, Sid has developed his own unique style of Jazz and is now exploring it through choreography.

Veena Basavarajaiah

Veena is a young acclaimed contemporary solo artiste of India. She is a recipient of Special Mention Young Achievers Award in 2007 and is also an epanneled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Veena has taken training in various dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kalaripayattu, Contemporary and Classical Ballet (with YLDC for about 5 years); and has performed on various platforms across UK and Europe. As an Educationist, she has worked with  children, teachers & individuals with special needs across the country and has been working towards incorporating performing arts in the main stream of education.

Elina Wisung

Elina spent her childhood in Malaysia before moving to India, where she began her training with Yana Lewis in 2001. Elina also took the Intermediate ISTD Vocational Graded Exam in Imperial Classical Ballet in December 2007. She went to London to study dance at London Studio Centre and was later trained as a teacher to secure a BA in Dance Education through the Royal Academy of Dance under the mentorship of Yana Lewis. Due to family commitments she is currently teaching in Sweden, but often visits India as a visiting faculty of the Academy.