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Staff

Anna Shkolnik, B.SC., M.A.(T)

Anna ShkolnikAnna Shkolnik is the Principal of Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts.

Before joining HAPA Anna has held the positions of Principal, Academic Vice-Principal, Mathematics Department Head and Math teacher in a prestigious private school in Ontario. Anna is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and holds Math Specialist and Ontario Principal credentials. She has taught Mathematics at elementary and secondary levels in Kiev, Ukraine and university stream Math courses in Hamilton, Ontario

Equipped with over 25 years Canadian experience as an Educator, she has a heightened understanding of every aspect of the Canadian education system including teaching, executive administration, academic counseling and student recruitment. She has worked extensively with international students, parents and educational consultants from all over the world, focusing on pre-university studies and university placement.  

She has traveled throughout the world, developing strategic partnerships with foreign schools and recruiting students to study in Canada. As an expert in global educational systems, Anna has helped thousands of students to choose a post secondary program and secure university placements in North America. top

Max Ratevosian, Artistic/Executive Director 
BA Ballet Master, MA Choregrapher

Max Ratevosian

Max graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia and later from the State University of Lunacharsky G.I.T.I.S. in Moscow with a degree major of Ballet Master, Teacher and Choreographer.

During his 20 year tenure at the Moscow State Ballet Theatre he was Principal Dancer, Teacher and Ballet Master. As a professor at the University of Shepkin, Theatre Division, Max taught Stage Movement and Dance for Dramatic Arts. At the University of Lunacharsky G.I.T.I.S. Theatrical Division in Moscow, he also taught Methodology for Classical Dance.

Max’s former students have become dancers in major ballet companies throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia. White some have achieved great success in various international dance competitions in Moscow, Varna, Paris and Denmark.

In 1991, Max was invited to Canada to teach at L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec, in Montreal, The National Ballet School and The National Ballet of Canada in Toronto, as well as McMaster University in Hamilton. Over the years, he has been invited as a guest teacher to a variety of schools and companies throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. In 2001, Max co-founded the Hamilton City Ballet school.

Max has staged classical ballet productions such as Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Paquita and Les Sylphides.

In November of 2008, Max was awarded the City of Hamilton Arts Award for Dance. top

Melania Pawliw – Associate Artistic Director

Melania PawliwMelania Pawliw is a graduate of L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec and received her diploma in Dance Performance and Teaching from C.E.G.E.P. du Vieux-Montreal, in Montreal. She is fluent in four languages; English, French, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Melania was a soloist and principal dancer with various classical companies in Montreal and abroad-notably with the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theatre in Ukraine. Melania’s teaching career began as an assistant at The National Ballet School in Toronto. The next five years she taught at L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec in Montreal. After moving to Hamilton, Melania co-founded the Hamilton City Ballet school in 2001. In addition to teaching, Melania choreographs ballets for the dancers of Hamilton City Ballet.

From 2005 to 2007 Melania was Ballet Mistress for the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble’s The Nutcracker ballet in Hamilton, in partnership with the National Ballet of Cuba and Ballet Ouest de Montreal.

From 2003-2009 Melania was dance-educator for the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Learning Through the Arts program, for school boards across the regions of Niagara, Brant, Kitchener/Waterloo and Halton. Melania taught Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum subjects through movement and dance. top

Diane Le – B.A., English and Art History, B. Ed

DIane LeDiane graduated from McMaster University with double honour degrees in English and Art History and from Brock University with Bachelors in Education. Upon graduating from Brock University, Diane holds an Ontario Teaching Certificate and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. Diane has also received certification in Special Education. As part of formal education Diane has taken courses in sculpture, animation, illustration and painting.

At the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts Diane is teaching English, Science, Social Studies and Visual Arts. Diane has spent years volunteering in elementary schools throughout Hamilton. She has worked with and taught primary and elementary grades and tutored grade nine ESL classes. She has also spent time volunteering with the Hamilton Public Library as an adult ESL tutor teaching English to new immigrants. top

Paulette Jestin, L.es L., M.es L., AMS Ed., AMS Montessori Ed.

PaulettePaulette graduated from Université de Lettres de Limoges, in France, with a Maîtrise es Lettres, Histoire and a Licence es Lettres, Histoire.

She taught History and French in France before immigrating to Canada.

In Canada Paulette obtain the training as a Montessori teacher and has taught French in Ontario Montessori schools for many years. Feeling the need for a more interactive method for teaching French, she took the AIM language learning training, a Canadian teaching method that stresses verbal communication skills. top

Mr. Leon Karan, M.F.A., B.Mus., R.M.T., Pianist and Educator

Leon KaranLeon Karan holds degrees of Master of Fine Arts from Ural University, in Yekaterinburg, Russia and Bachelor of Music from Music College in Mogelev, Belarus.

In Belarus Leon held the position of Piano Department Head at the Music School for the Gifted Students and worked as a piano methodology course instructor at the Music Teacher’s University in Minsk, Belarus. Since his arrival to Canada in 1991, he has been teaching piano with several prestigious music schools and conducts a senior’s choir in Hamilton. In 1993 Leon performed with the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra as a guest piano soloist and founded his own Leon’s Music Studio. Many of his students have received the highest awards in local, provincial, nationwide competitions, Golden and Silver medals from RCM and become professional musicians. In 2004-2005 he was the Vice-President of Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association, Hamilton/Halton Branch.

Since 2000 he is holding position as a piano instructor and Director of Piano Pedagogy summer courses at McMaster University and in 2009 joined the faculty of Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts. top


Marta Greda-Kicek, B.A. (Opera/Performance)

Marta Greda-Kicek
Vocal Teacher
Ms. Greda-Kicek graduated from the Academy of Music in Poland with a major in Opera and pedagogy. She continued her studies as an Opera singer in Germany and Austria. She graduated from Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario with a diploma in Performance. From 2001 to 2003 she collaborated with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Ms. Greda-Kicek has been teaching vocal in Ontario for more than 17 years. She was part of the collaboration program Teaching Through the Arts with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and the Royal Conservatory of Arts. Ms. Greda-Kicek maintains her singing career.

Susan Bowden

Susan Bowden has been studying with Dancetheatre David Earle for 5 years.  She was born and raised in Lindsay, Ontario.  She began dancing at the age of 9, focusing primarily on jazz and ISTD modern.  She studied dance at York University.  She has had the privilege to teach dance at the University of Waterloo, Temple Studios and Hamilton City Ballet.  Susan has performed in works by David Earle, Janet Johnson, Julia Garlisi and Michael English over the last three years. top

Board Members