Join us in welcoming back our fantastic guest faculty from DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET, Ema Merdjanova and Alan Land for our 3-Day Winter Intensive! 

Emanouela Merdjanova is a distinguished ballet dancer with over 25 years of experience. A graduate of The National Ballet School in Bulgaria, she has performed with prestigious companies, including the National Opera and Ballet of Sofia, Jeune Ballet de France, Ballet du Capitole Toulouse, Finnish National Ballet, and The Dutch National Ballet, where she rose to Soloist.

She has worked with renowned choreographers such as Natalia Makarova, Alexei Ratmanski, Hans van Manen, and Christopher Wheeldon. Her repertoire includes leading roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Shostakovich Trilogy, and Les Sylphides, as well as works by Balanchine, Forsythe, and Marston.

Beyond performing, Emanuela holds a ballet teaching diploma from the Vaganova Academy in Amsterdam, a Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Education certification, and a Nutrition Certificate from Stanford University. Since 2019, she has been teaching at the Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam and working with the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet.

Alan Land, a Ballet Master at Dutch National Ballet and former principal dancer, began his training at The Children's Theater School and Minnesota Dance Theater before attending Canada's National Ballet School.

He joined the Dutch National Ballet in 1979 and became a principal in 1987, performing lead roles in Giselle, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and many others. He also danced works by renowned choreographers like Balanchine, Forsythe, van Manen, van Dantzig, and van Schayk.

A guest soloist in Monaco, Israel, and Poland, Land received the Golden Theater Dance Award in 1995. He retired from the stage that year, and in 2001 became assistant artistic director of the Finnish National Ballet. Alan returned to the Dutch National Ballet as ballet master in 2003. Occasionally, he still performs character roles.

A sought-after guest teacher, Land has worked with major companies worldwide, including the English National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, and Nederlands

Dans Theater.

Beyond dance, he is an accomplished visual artist and painter, with solo exhibitions in Amsterdam and Minneapolis.

If interested in attending, please, inquire at admin@arraisballet.com