Olga Sharutenko
As a young girl, Olga Sharutenko wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps
and become a figure skater. She began her training at the age of six. She and
her skatingpartner joined the Russian National Junior team and in 1995 became
Junior World Champions. After this success, they were invited to join the
Russian Senior National team and were to enjoy great success, winning
numerous competitions around the world. In 1999, she joined the theatrical
skating troupe the Russian Ice Stars, and performed in Peter Pan on Ice, The
Phantom of the Opera on Ice, Barnum on Ice. Olga also performed in the UK and Australian
tour of The Nutcracker on Ice, where she performed the lead role of Clara. Olga joined
The Imperial Ice Stars in 2004 for their world tour of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, playing
the lead role of the Lilac Fairy, then went on to the world tour of Swan Lake on Ice
playing the lead role of Odette, and has recently played the title role in the Cinderella
on Ice world tour. www.olgasharutenko.com
Olena Pyatash
Olena Pyatash began to skate at the age of five in her hometown of Kharkov,
Ukraine, where she trained as an ice dancer. She took part in numerous ice
skating competitions around the world and enjoyed a notable sports career.
She joined the Bobrin Ice Theatre in Moscow in 1996 and in 1997 joined the
Russian Ice Stars, performing in productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice,
Barnum on Ice, Sensational Ice and the Australia and New Zealand tour of
The Nutcracker on Ice. Olena joined The Imperial Ice Stars in 2004 for their
world tours of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice and Swan Lake on Ice, and has just
completed a world tour of Cinderella on Ice. The most important thing in her
life is her young son, Devid, who joins his parents (dad is Andrey Penkin)
on tour.
Andrey Penkin
Andrey, who has been skating since the age of three, was born in St
Petersburg. His career began as a single skater, competing in many
European competitions; he won Bronze medals at the Baltic Cup and
Championship of St Petersburg.
Andrey turned professional in 1998 and joined the Russian Ice Stars; he has appeared
in Cinderella on Ice, Peter Pan on Ice, The Phantom of the Opera on Ice, Barnum on Ice,
The Nutcracker on Ice and Ice Spectacular.
Andrey joined The Imperial Ice Stars in 2004, touring worldwide in The Sleeping
Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice, and, more recently, in Cinderella on Ice. In his spare
time Andrey enjoys all types of sports, including tennis, and watching his
hometown football team Zenit; he is an avid supporter of Manchester United.
Vadim Yarkov
Vadim Yarkov was born in Kazakhstan and started to skate at the age of six. At
15 he moved to the city of Sverdlorsk and began to skate as a pairs skater. He
was a member of the USSR National Team from 1991 to 1995 and won a total
of 16 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 9 bronze medals. He also became a
Master of Sport International. In 1995, Vadim joined the ice company founded
by Tatiana Tarasova and in 1996, he joined the Moscow on Ice Company and
performed in California, USA. In 1997, he joined the Russian Ice Stars and
appeared for them for seven years, performing leading roles in all productions.
In 2004, Vadim joined The Imperial Ice Stars and has played the lead role of the
Prince in both The Sleeping Beauty on Ice and Swan Lake on Ice world tours. Most
recently he has played the role of Cinderella’s father in the world tour of
Cinderella on Ice. When he has time to relax, he enjoys listening to music, watching
movies and riding motor scooters.
Ruslan Novoseltsev
Skating since the age of four, Ruslan is now in his tenth year of performing in ice
shows as well as being a qualified coach and Master of Sport.
Ruslan lives in the UK with
his wife and family and loves to spend as much time with them as possible when
at home.
Bogdan Berezenko
Bogdan was born in 1984 in the Ukrainian town of Dnepropetrovsk. When he
was four his mother gave him a pair of skates, and having started as a single
skater he moved into pairs, attaining a Master of Sports. He took part in numerous
competitions including the stages of Grand Prix. Parallel with his sporting pursuits he
studied law at Dnepropetrovsk National University, and has been studying management
at the Moscow Institute of Economy and Culture. Bogdan has performed
single and pairs, ensemble and lead roles in ice shows, and has spent the last three years
with Circus on Ice performing many innovative routines, complete with polar
bears on skates! His hobbies include: football,billiards, tennis and computer games.
Yulia Odintsova
Yulia was born in St Petersburg in 1982 and began skating at the age of four,
coached by her father. At the age of 14 she moved to England and began
skating in pairs and continued to compete internationally for many years.
Following her competitive career Yulia joined the St Petersburg Ballet on Ice
company. In 2005, she graduated from the Academy of Physical Education
in St Petersburg. Yulia has a young son Danila, and in her spare time enjoys
theatre and music.
Jurijs Salmanovs
Jurijs was born in Riga in 1980 and started figure skating at the age of five.
At 15, he began pairs skating with Olga Boguslavska. In 1996, they participated
in the Junior World Championships and went on to compete at the European and
World Championships that same year. He then skated for several years with partner
Tatjana Zaharjeva before joining up with Elena Sirokhvatova with whom he finished
his career as a figure skater in 2003. In total Jurijs participated in five European and
World Championships. In 2003, he began his career as a coach in Riga.
Maria Orlova
Rehearsal Director
Maria was born in Moscow and has been involved
in the world of Ice Skating since the age of five
years old. In her sports career, Maria won numerous
national and International skating competitions at
different levels. Amongst her varied collection is a
Bronze Medal from the Junior World Championships held in Australia in 1988
and also a Gold Medal from the Russian National Cup. After turning
professional, Maria performed in shows around the world performing in the
Bobrin Ice Theatre and also as a member of the Russian Ice Stars, where she
performed a number of lead roles in Carmen on Ice, Phantom of the Opera
on Ice, Cinderella on Ice, Peter Pan on Ice and also performing the Lilac fairy
in Sleeping Beauty on Ice. Maria hopes to be able to pass on her experience,
as one of ice theatre’s most coveted performers. As well as having helped
create a number of programmes featured inside the Russian Ice Stars shows,
Maria also spends some of her spare time coaching.
The Imperial Ice Stars production of Sleeping Beauty on Ice was Maria’s
first full show, as an assistant rehearsal director and choreographer. The
experience gained by working alongside Tony Mercer and Tatiana
Tarasova during that tour has allowed Maria to evolve into a leading
choreographer in her own right and to garner numerous invitations.
Maria’s work in the Swan Lake production will no doubt further add to
her growing reputation as one of the world’s leading ice choreographers.