Victoria Jaiani and Alberto Velázquez in Anna Karenina

Victoria Jaiani and Alberto Velázquez (both Joffrey Ballet, Chicago) in a duet from Anna Karenina, music by Ilya Demutsky, choreography by Yuri Possokhov. Shot at Dance Open 2019 Gala on 29.4.2019 in Alexandrinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg.

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Victoria Jaiani is with The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago, USA. She is born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia, Ms. Jaiani began her training at the age of ten at V. Chabukiani Ballet School. She continued her studies in New York and in June 2003 was awarded a Bronze Medal at the New York International Ballet Competition. Victoria Jaiani joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2003.

Alberto Velazquez is a company artist with The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago. He began ballet studies at the Alejo Carpentier Elementary Ballet School in Havana, Cuba. He then continued studying under Adria Velazquez at the Fomento Artistico Cordobés in Cordoba Veracruz, Mexico. Velazquez was the gold medalist in pas de deux and a finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix National Finals in 2006. Velazquez joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre on full scholarship in 2008 and became a member of ABT II in 2009 under the artistic direction of Wes Chapman. Joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2011.

Photos by Jack Devant Ballet Photography with kind permission of the Dance Open ballet festival and Ekaterina Galanova, special thanks to Kristina Proku.