Faculty

Natalya (Natasha) Davison began her dance journey with rigorous training at the Armenian Choreographic Academy and continued her studies at GITIS, the world-renowned Moscow State University of Dramatic Art. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to passing on a legacy of excellence, specializing in Classical Ballet and International Folk Dance while nurturing both strong technique and authentic artistry.

After beginning her U.S. teaching career at The Dance Project: School at City Arts, Natalya founded Artistic Motion in 2000 with a vision to create a home where discipline, creativity, and community thrive. Today, the studio stands as a vibrant center for artistic growth, guiding students to become not only skilled dancers, but confident and expressive individuals.

Her commitment to excellence has shaped dancers who have gone on to train and perform with renowned institutions and companies such as the Bolshoi Ballet, the Armenia Opera House, the Martha Graham Dance Company, and Triad International Ballet, among others. She has also served on faculty at Greensboro College and The Dance Shop in Archdale, NC.

A co-founder and Artistic Director of Triad International Ballet, Natalya is deeply committed to cultivating excellence in dance both on stage and in the studio.

Born and raised in Moscow, Mikhail “Misha” Tchoupakov has performed with the esteemed Bolshoi Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, SanFrancisco Opera Ballet, and Vienna State Opera Ballet in Austria. His teaching career, which spans over three decades, includes faculty positions at The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst School for Dance, and the English National Ballet School in the U.K., in addition to serving as an assistant professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Ballet. Misha has a longstanding affiliation with the Youth America Grand Prix, where he serves as rehearsal director, judge, and master teacher for this prominent ballet and contemporary dance competition in New York. Internationally renowned as a guest teacher, he has instructed at numerous top schools worldwide. Mr. Tchoupakov holds an M.F.A. in dance pedagogy and choreography from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. He joined the faculty of the UNCSA School of Dance in 2013 and was promoted to Full Professor in 2024.

In 2008, Heather joined the faculty at Colorado Ballet Academy, where she taught for 13 years. She instructed all ages and levels in ballet technique, pointe, variations, repertoire, and conditioning, choreographed ensemble works, staged classical repertoire, and coached students for Denver Ballet Guild and Youth America Grand Prix competitions. She also served as a guest teacher for YAGP workshops in Denver.

Heather created and led the Academy’s Intermediate Summer Intensive and taught with Ballet Virginia International and Colorado Ballet Academy’s Summer Intensive under the direction of Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner. Her students have been accepted to Juilliard, English National Ballet School, UNC School of the Arts, Kirov Academy (Washington, D.C.), Boston Ballet School, Colorado Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet.

Originally from Virginia, Heather graduated from Old Dominion University Ballet School. She trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, was a full-scholarship student at the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C., and attended the Hungarian State Ballet School Summer Intensive in Budapest.

Avalon began dancing at age 5 and has trained with world-renowned teachers and companies across the U.S. and abroad. Throughout her journey, she has performed iconic roles such as Giselle, Big Masha in The Nutcracker, and Medora in Le Corsaire, earning top awards at prestigious competitions like ADC IBC and YAGP.

Her professional career includes dancing with Zikr Dance Ensemble, Maureen Breeze Dance Theatre, and Richmond Ballet’s Studio Company, where she performed in productions such as The Nutcracker, Dracula, Mozartiana, and the New Works Festival. In 2025, she became Principal Dancer with Triad International Ballet, where she has delivered a memorable performance in Coppélia.

Grigor “Grish” Zakyan was a principal ballet dancer with Triad International Ballet. He was born in Yerevan, Armenia. He began his career as a dancer with his acceptance into the Yerevan State Choreographic College ballet program in 2010.  He attended the Choreographic College until his graduation in 2018, after which he was offered a position with the Armenian Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan. There, he has performed roles in ballets such as Gayane, Spartacus, Carmen, Don Quixote, and Giselle. With the company, he also performed in Moscow, Russia, at the legendary Bolshoi Theatre, one of the most prestigious stages in the world. Grigor travelled to the United States after being invited to participate in a cultural exchange program sponsored by Rotary Club International. He has been teaching ballet, and performing at Artistic Motion since 2018. In the United States, Grigor has performed leading roles such as the Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Solor in La Bayadère, Basilio in Don Quixote, Desire in The Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Grigor has performed throughout California, Arizona, Tennessee, and numerous other states, as well as internationally on some of the world’s most renowned stages. Grish joined Triad International Ballet and was a principal dancer from 2021-2025.

Karina Zakyan has been teaching Vaganova based ballet at Artistic Motion for 5 years, where she studied for 15 years. She participated in summer intensives with prestigious institutions such as the Bolshoi, Kirov, ABT, and SAB. In 2018, Karina privately trained at the Yerevan State Choreographic Academy in Armenia and took company classes with the Armenian Theatre of Opera and Ballet. She has been teaching all levels at Artistic Motion School of Arts for 5 years. Karina has danced many roles, including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Kitri in Don Quixote. She has performed at various prestigious venues, including the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C., and the Lincoln Center in New York City with the Youth American Grand Prix Finals Gala. Karina was a principal dancer with Triad International Ballet from 2021-2025 while concluding her Dance and English degrees at UNCG.

Taylor Cormier is is a dance artist, educator, and choreographer based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She holds a B.A. in Dance Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies at UNCG. Her work is rooted in a holistic, somatic approach that bridges embodied movement and personal growth.

While at UNCG, Taylor performed repertory works under the mentorship of esteemed faculty and guest artists, including B.J. Sullivan, Clarice Young, Janet Lilly, Maurice Watson, Robin Gee, and Doug Varone.

She recently premiered her first evening-length choreographic work, Vestibular, created in collaboration with Anna Creekmore, featuring dedicated Artistic Motion students. Now entering her sixth year at Artistic Motion, Taylor teaches beginning through advanced jazz, intermediate tap, and advanced modern.

Mya began dancing at just 3 years old and started her competitive dance journey at age 7, earning frequent awards as a member of two competitive teams. Her love for ballet truly blossomed when she because a student at AMSA, where she’s continued to grow both her skills and her passion. This pa

st summer, Mya took her training to new heights, completing the Pre-Professional Summer Dance Intensive with NYCDA in New York. She is now preparing for her next chapter — attending the University of South Carolina to study pediatric nursing and dance education.

McCallister brings a wealth of experience and passion to the studio, with a background in both teaching and performing. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher (Pre-Primary through Level 3) and has taught Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Pointe. Her professional journey includes positions at Studio C Academy of Dance, Elite Dance Studio, and Dance Tech Studios, where she served as Director of Ballet and helped redesign their ballet program.

A former trainee with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, McCallister has a deep appreciation for performance and choreography. Her teaching style emphasizes strong technique, artistry, and a positive, structured environment.

Taniya Medlin is a dancer, teacher, creative, and choreographer from Salisbury, North Carolina, who began dancing at age 16. A 2022 graduate of Salisbury High School, she served as a two-year captain of the Honeybee Dance Team, training in baton and flag twirling, majorette dance, and tumbling.

She is currently a dance major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she has studied contemporary, jazz, ballet, West African, and hip-hop. Taniya has trained under esteemed faculty including Marielis Garcia, Clarice Young, Maurice Watson, Robin Gee, and B.J. Sullivan, and has performed works by various choreographers and guest artists.