Slava Tutukin, a former principal ballet dancer, is currently a producer, manager, and director. Trained at the renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, he worked as a principal dancer at the Mikhailovsky Theatre and Aalto Ballet Essen. After retiring from the stage, Slava has held significant roles in the arts sector, including managing the Linz State Theater's dance company in Austria, serving as Managing Director at the Tanya Pearson Academy in Sydney, and working as Manager and Deputy Artistic Director of the Dortmund Ballet Theatre and NRW Junior Ballet in Germany. He has produced and curated various projects, including international ballet galas, capacity-building workshops, and corporate events for luxury brands. Recent projects include the Sydney International Ballet Gala, Heaven on Earth Ballet Week in the Maldives and Cartier’s new high jewellery presentation in Vienna. As a mentor and dance educator, he has led master classes and training sessions for Ballet Dortmund, NRW Junior Ballet, Youth Ballet WA, Vaganova Summer Intensives Academy, and Tanya Pearson Academy. Slava holds a BA (Hons) in Business Management and a professional certificate in accounting from England and currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Theatre and Performance in Australia.

Chiara Ajkun serves as Artistic Director of the Ajkun Ballet Theatre, a vital part of New York City’s art scene and home of the professional company and ballet school since 2000. A multi-award winning choreographer, her works have been commissioned by theaters in 27 countries and performed by renowned artists from companies such as American Ballet, Royal Ballet, Paris Opera, Het National and Stuttgart Ballet. Her choreographic collection, The Originals, forms the signature repertory of the Ajkun Ballet Company. Chiara’s ballets are characterized by powerful physicality, emotional expression, and rich narratives. Her unique dance vocabulary is rooted in classical ballet and blended with contemporary elements, emphasizing the artistic qualities of the dancers. Dr. Ajkun created the Ajkun © Methodology, a science-based ballet system integrating research from Harvard and NYU, which originated the solely approved U.S. international trainee program of its kind. Chiara strives to shift ballet teaching away from outdated methods by prioritizing the well-being and diversity of each dance student. Under her leadership the Ajkun Ballet School fosters small class sizes, a personalized learning experience and enhanced employment outcomes. Chiara 's belief in the transformative and inclusive power of the arts led to the establishment of the AjkunBT Fund that, along with the theater, has provided over 5 million US dollars in funding to dancers of 135 nationalities to participate in the programs of the Ajkun Ballet Theatre. Chiara Ajkun is a former principal dancer, university director and EU consultant for dance education. She has also worked for national television productions, opera competitions and as senior adviser for Creative Europe. She is currently serving as a consultant for the public school districts of New York and Westchester County in the USA.