Faculty Bios

Artur Sultanov, Artistic Director
Mr. Sultanov was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia.  He trained at Vaganova Ballet Academy and at age 17, joined the Kirov ballet where he danced a classical repertoire.  Artur has also performed with Eifman Ballet as a Soloist.

In 2000 he moved to San Francisco to join Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet.  There, he worked closely with Mr. King on creating original contemporary ballets.  In 2003 Artur joined Oregon Ballet Theatre. His principal roles at OBT include the Prince in Swan Lake, Ivan in Firebird, and the Cavalier in the Nutcracker, among others.   Artur was a guest artist with Trey McIntyre Project, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and California Ballet Company where he performed the role of Romeo in their version of Romeo and Juliet.  He has been featured on OPB as an emerging artist in Portland (http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat/segments/view/200).  Mr. Sultanov has worked and performed with a tribe of pigmies from Central Africa in the project called “People of the Forest”.  He has appeared at numerous festivals such as the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, the Chicago Dancing Festival and Fall For Arts- the most prestigious festival of contemporary dance in New York City.  Mr. Sultanov has performed on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera House, Kennedy Center, Bolshoi Ballet Theatre, and the Mariisnky Theatre in his native city of St. Petersburg.

In addition to being an accomplished dancer, Mr. Sultanov has also taught extensively throughout his professional career.   In the past eight years, Mr. Sultanov has taught and choreographed for the school of Oregon Ballet Theatre and Lines Contemporary Ballet School of San Francisco.  His vast experience also includes holding master workshops in the Portland Metro Area, Seaside, OR, Vancouver and Tacoma, Washington.  Artur Sultanov is excited to be a part of the Portland dance community and is looking forward to inspiring a new generation of dancers.

Raissa Chazova, Ballet Instructor
Raissa was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She’s been dancing all her life. At the age of 6 she started as a rhythmic gymnast, after that at the age of 10 she was accepted at the Almaty Choreographic School. During her school years she learned classical ballet as well as folk dance, contemporary dance. In 2004- 2005 she was accepted to Novosibirsk Choreographic School where she learned techniques of Russian classical ballet in depth.

After coming back to Almaty in 2005 Raisa did her internship and performed at the Abai’s State Academic Ballet Theater for 2 years. During that time she performed in many classical ballets like Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty and Grigorovich’s Legends of Love. Raisa took part in many competitions in Kazakhstan and other countries, including The First Korean International Ballet Competition.

In 2008 she was accepted to the School of Oregon Ballet Theater where she was studying American school of classical ballet and performed in OBT’s Swan Lake and Nutcracker.
She started her teaching career in 2009 when she taught choreography to ballet students and rhythmic  gymnasts and was an artistic director of a dance academy.

Megan Abila, Ballet Instructor
Megan Abila is a Portland native.  She began her training at age seven under the direction of Cynthia Tosh at Portland Dance Academy.  There she was trained Vaganova method and Balanchine technique.  Megan has taken many workshops with leading dance makers of the world including Maria Tallchief, Kyra Nichols, Jacques d’Amboise, Donald Byrd, Alonzo King, and Gelsey Kirkland among others.

Megan has a passion for teaching all ages of students.  She began her teaching career at Portland Community Ballet where she also danced many leading roles such as Cinderella, Lilac Fairy, Raymonda, and Enchanted Toyshop.  Megan is looking forward to a new year at SRBA and continuing her dance training under Artistic Director, Artur Sultanov.

Olivia Ornelas, Ballet and Contemporary Instructor
Olivia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and began training in Arizona at Ballet Etudes and at Mary Moe Adams Royal Ballet Academy.  She joined OBT as part of the Pre-Professional Program in 2008, later becoming an Apprentice.  She was promoted to Company Artist in the summer of 2011.  2014 marks the end of her career with OBT, as she wishes to pursue new ventures.  She is more than excited to be a part of the Sultanov Academy faculty!

Clairen Kearney, Ballet Instructor

Clairen Kearney is native to the Portland Oregon area.  She started her ballet training at the age of six under Janis Waddle at Joy of Praise Dance Studio.  At age 11 she continued ballet at On Your Toes Studios in Clackamas under Kelsey Neumann.  Then at 13 she started training under Jacquie Kunzman at the Clackamas Youth Ballet and joined the company at age 14.  It was at CYB where she began to train for teaching.  She performed lead roles in CYB’s productions, such as Snow Queen in the Nutcracker and Laurie in Oklahoma.

Teaching is a joy for her and this last year Clairen became owner and director of On Your Toes Studios.  Besides teaching at the Sultanov Russian Ballet Academy she continues her own training under Artur Sultanov.