| Kirov Academy of Ballet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
4301 Harewood Rd NE, Washington, D.C. | |
| Coordinates | 38°56′28″N 77°00′12″W / 38.941°N 77.0032°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Ballet school |
| Established | 1990 |
| Closed | 2022 |
| Grades | 6th through 12th |
| Campus size | 1.2 acres |
The Kirov Academy of Ballet (formerly the Universal Ballet Academy[1]) was a ballet school in Washington, D.C. founded by Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon in 1990.[2] It closed in May 2022.
The Kirov was located in a former monastery on a 1.2 acre campus in the Brookland neighborhood of northeast Washington, D.C. The 50,000 square foot gated facility featured dormitories, studios, and administrative space.[3]
The Kirov’s spring and winter performance series were held in the academy’s 300-seat auditorium. Annually, the six performances served more than 1,800 people, including student performers, family members, children (including from underserved populations), and ballet aficionados of all ages.[citation needed]
Kirov Academy of Ballet students have gone on to become leading dancers at top companies around the world.[4] Graduates and other students include Melanie Hamrick,[4] Sascha Radetsky,[4] Hee Seo,[4] Jayna Ledford,[5] Rasta Thomas,[6] Michele Wiles,[6] Danny Tidwell,[7] Tyler Nelson,[8] Vanessa Zahorian,[9] Sasha De Sola,[10] Brooklyn Mack,[11] Maria Bystrova,[6] Hyo-Jung Kang,[12] Melissa Hough,[6] Connor Walsh,[13] Rory Hohenstein,[6] Brian Maloney,[14] Jonathan Jordan,[15] J’aime Crandall,[16] Elizabeth Mason,[17] Lauren Strongin,[6] Dana Genshaft,[18] Laura O’Malley,[6] Adrienne Canterna,[6] Evan McKie,[4] Dragoș Mihalcea,[19] Yena Kang,[20] Hye-Min Hwang,[21] Jae Yong Ohm.[6]
