_edited.png)
Leonid Kisil
Biography
Choreographer, teacher, associate professor, ballet artist and soloist, founder and artistic director of the Fonballet choreography studio and theater.
Education
1997–2006 — Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (class of V. Yu. Tsvetkov)
2001 — Graduated from the Mravinsky Children’s Music School
2007–2009 — Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Bachelor’s degree in Ballet Art
2007–2013 — INZHECON (now St. Petersburg State University of Economics), Specialist degree in Law
2014–2017 — Postgraduate studies, Faculty of Law, St. Petersburg State University, International Law
2020–2022 — Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Master’s degree in Choreography / Ballet Master and Producer (workshop of E. A. Smirnov), graduated with honors
2020–2026 — Postgraduate student at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, field of study: Art History, Choreographic Art
Achievements, Competitions, and Awards
2011 — Second Prize Laureate, International Ballet Competition in Rieti, Italy
2012 — Letters of appreciation from the Saint Petersburg charitable public organization for helping children with disabilities “Umka,” and others
2022 — First Prize Laureate, 4th Interuniversity Choreographic Competition named after Yu. Gromov, “I Am a Ballet Master”
2022 — First Prize Laureate, 3rd International Choreographic Competition named after B. Bregvadze, “Pa.RUS”
2023–2025 — Member of the Expert Council Cultural Committee of the Youth Parliament under the State Duma of the Russian Federation
Work
July 2006 – August 2016 — Member of the ballet company of the Mikhailovsky Theatre. Performed soloist and coryphée roles, and also appeared in the corps de ballet in all ballet productions and in a number of opera productions.
Performed the following roles: the Wolf in The Sleeping Beauty; solo part in the Hungarian Dance in Swan Lake (productions by N. Boyarchikov); Pierrot and the Mouse King in The Nutcracker (choreography by N. Boyarchikov); solo part in the Spanish Dance in Masha and the Mouse King (choreography by M. Bolshakova); Gurn in La Sylphide; Radish in Cipollino; solo parts in the Andalusian Dance and Gypsy Dance in the opera Carmen; Don Quixote, Espada, Toreadors, Gypsy Dance, and Fandango in Don Quixote; Pinocchio in the ballet Pinocchio; Lankendem and Corsairs in the ballet Le Corsaire; Corregidor in the ballet Carmen; and others.
Also collaborated with other theaters and dance companies in the city and performed as a dancer at various venues in Saint Petersburg.
In 2016, he was invited to the Boris Eifman Ballet Theatre as Deputy Artistic Director, where he led the ballet company, taught classes, conducted solo rehearsals, and more.
2014–2016 — Taught master classes in the United States, Canada, and Russia for students of three age groups and varying levels of training. He taught classical ballet to all groups, pas de deux classes to the intermediate and advanced groups, and also gave private lessons. For the students’ final concert, he choreographed original works as well as excerpts from various ballets. Participation in these master classes helped students gain admission to professional higher choreographic institutions in the United States and Canada. His first students have already graduated from the School of Alberta.
Provided legal support for European, UAE, and Israeli tours of the Saint Petersburg “Russian Ballet” Theatre, and organized a tour to China together with Sichuan Performance and Exhibition Company, People’s Republic of China.
Organized and provided legal support for “Stars of Ballet” gala concerts in South America.
Collaborated with the Saint Petersburg Workout Federation.
In 2018, he founded the choreography studio “Ballet on Fontanka” (Fonballet). He serves as the studio’s artistic director and lead teacher, teaching beginner classes, classical ballet from scratch, ballet conditioning, repertoire, and more.
In 2020, he opened the Fonballet Theatre.
Since 2024 — Artistic Director of the ANO “Fonballet Theatre”
2024/2025 — Associate Professor, Department of Choreography, St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture; course master
2026 — Member of the Advisory Council of the St. Petersburg Festival of Dance, Florida
Jury Member
Creativity Festival “Youth Wave 2022,” Choreography Division
10th International Competition-Festival “Seven Steps,” Kemerovo
7th All-Russian Competition Forum “Road of Inspiration. Choreography,” Abakan, 2023
International Festival-Competition “International Days of Art in Russia,” Veliky Novgorod, 2023
And many others
Creative
2017–2018 — Together with the Saint-Michel Art Center, participated in the staging of The Nutcracker in Brussels and Berlin.
Participated in and assisted with productions by students of the Conservatory’s choreography faculty.
Took part in various charitable performances, including for organizations such as Umka and Big Dipper.
In 2020, staged the one-act mini-ballet Amphitryon.
In 2021, staged the choreographic numbers Theatrik and Frou-Frou.
In 2022, staged the choreographic piece Adajio en Vendemiere.
Since 2022, has staged choreographic works including Fantasy, Fragments, Nuevo en esta Plaza, and others for students of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Since 2021, has been creating choreographic works for concerts and exams for students of the Performance Faculty of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Creates productions for theaters, competitions, creative groups, and films (for example, the film Night Before Dawn, directed by Maxim Dashkin), and others.
Participated as an author in scientific conferences and publications:
“Atmosphere: Prospects for Development and Innovation,” with the article “The Role of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the Regulation of Ballet Productions” (Institute of Design, Applied Arts, and Humanities)
5th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with international participation: “Current Issues in the Development of Ballet Art and Choreographic Education,” with the article “Choreographic Production as a Complex Object of Copyright” (Moscow State Academy of Choreography)
Scientific article published in the journal Economy. Business. Law (2016)
Touring
Performed on tour with the Mikhailovsky Theatre and other companies, including as head of the ballet company of the Boris Eifman Ballet Theatre, in countries including Russia, the United States, Canada, England, France, Italy, Germany, Finland, China, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Japan, and others.