Since she started classical ballet lessons at a very young age, Ganna Kotenko has found plenty of inspiration in the lifelong hobby and art form.

However, for the Crimea, Ukraine, native, there was one ballet teacher in her home country who truly inspired Kotenko to do something with ballet.

The teacher - who continued to give lessons until the age of 80 - died two years ago. And at the suggestion of her mother, Kotenko has decided to carry on her former teacher's legacy.

Kotenko opened Swan Lake Ballet Studio in May in Building 13 of Banbury Place. She teaches classical ballet for ages 5-8, 9-12 and a few older students.

"The main idea was to open up a classical ballet studio because classical ballet is my main skill," Kotenko said.

Now a ballet master, Kotenko used to practice ballet four to six hours per day, eventually winning first place at the Pearl of Crimea festival in Forok, Ukraine, where ballet is a major tradition.

Kotenko, 23. moved to the United States at age 14 and studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Houston. She also performed with the Bay Area Houston Ballet Theater. Since relocating to Eau Claire roughly five years ago, Kotenko earned a degree in math at UW-Eau Claire with a minor in dance.

Kotenko said she hopes to pass some of her skills on to up-and-coming dancers. Her lessons begin with the very basics for younger students. As the dancers get older, Kotenko shares parts of her dance repertoire, which includes "Nutcracker," "Carmen," "Swan Lake" and "Don Quixote."

Performances for Kotenko's students are scheduled for Aug. 6 at Summer Fest and Sept. 17 at the International Fall Festival, both in downtown Eau Claire. She also hopes to hold a recital at The State Theatre at the end of the year for all of her students.

"We want to show the beauty of classical ballet to downtown and other people in the community," Kotenko said.

Olga Kasatkina, Kotenko's mother and studio partner, said getting kids involved in physical activities at an early age is important for their development in more ways than one.

Dance, Kasatkina said, played an important role in teaching her daughter responsibility and how to keep herself healthy.

"She was responsible because she needed to wake up early and she needed to focus and she needed to take care of her body," Kasatkina said.

Among other things, Kotenko said classical ballet helps develop good posture as well as coordination and balance.

She said ballet is also helpful in teaching the basics of dance for students who may want to pursue other forms of dance as they get older.

"Classical ballet is the basis for other dancing genres," Kotenko said. "After they take classical ballet they can move on to other dances."

Sarah Gilbert's 6-year-old daughter, Morgan, recently started a five week session of classes with Kotenko. Sarah Gilbert said she tries to introduce Morgan to as many things as possible to see what she might be good at or enjoy. So far, she said, ballet has been a winner.

"This is just one small thing were trying to introducer her to," Sarah Gilbert said. "She loves it. She loves Ganna. When she gets home she'll demonstrate and show us what the dances are."

If You Go

What: Ballet classes at Swan Lake Ballet Studio.

Where: Building 13, Banbury Place.

When: Mondays and Fridays; session duration varies depending on preference.

How much: $54 for children age 5-8, and $75 for ages 9-12.

Call: 715-590-8502.

Website: swanlakeballetstudio.com.

Staff photo by Andi Stempniak