Meet the Team

  • Founder / Artistic Director

    Has won the hearts of all who experienced her delicate, refined performances. Treating audiences to many masterful and memorable roles, Mrs. Julia danced the starring role in many ballets including Giselle, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Macbeth, Spartacus, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and Allegro Brilliant, Concerto Barocco, Sylvia Pas De Deux, Who Cares, Raymonda of Balanchine and other beautiful pieces of acclaimed masters. She scored tremendous critical success and the New York Times ballet critic Anna Kisselgoff praised her work in the title role of ballet Esmeralda with NJBallet Co.

    Mrs. Julia’s career began in Moscow at the world famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Degree of Ballet Artist) and the Bolshoi Institute of Choreography (Bachelor degree of Ballet teacher). She toured throughout the world as a principal artist with the Moscow Classical Ballet and Russian State Ballet. She performed at the world famous Bolshoi Theatre, Vienna State Opera and other big stages of the world. From 1998 she was with the New Jersey Ballet Co. as a principal dancer.

    As a teacher Mrs. Julia has been praised for her extraordinary ability to work with today’s young generation of dancers. Her thorough knowledge of the most current teaching methods and styles has produced many dancers who have been accepted into some of the most prestigious dance programs and companies.

    In 2011 she with her husband Konstantin Dournev founded the Academy of Dance and Creative Arts, Inc, School of Russian Ballet (Duet-SRB). She created International Summer Ballet program for ballet students and Intensive Summer Ballet Camp. The students under leadership of Mrs Julia have great performing skills, competition experience and scholarships. All of Duet’s students were able to get accepted to various art schools such as; Mark Twain, Bay Academy, La Guardia and more.

    In 2018 Mrs Julia with her husband Konstantin Dournev founded Jewels Festival - ballet & dance competition.

  • Co-Founder, Executive Director

    ​American Youth Ballet’s Artistic Director, Albert Davydov, was born in Russia and trained at the Kazan Choreographic School of Ballet. Upon graduation, he joined the Tatar State Theater of Opera and Ballet where he danced solo and principal roles and toured with the company throughout Europe and the United States.

    Mr Albert has won numerous prizes in international ballet competitions. Albert’s professional career in the United States includes principle positions with New Jersey Ballet from 2004 through 2017. His repertoire includes the Nutcracker, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Corsare, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, amongst others.

    Prior to becoming the Artistic Director of American Youth Ballet he has taught at the Sharon Miller Academy, New Jersey Ballet School and continues to teach master classes at the Valentina Kozova’s Dance Conservatory, and International Ballet Theater and other ballet schools.

    In 2022 Mr Albert become a co-founder and partner of the Jewels Festival.

  • Host & Public Speaking Coordinator

    As a dancer himself, preferring the street dance called Bboying or Breakdancing, Mr Andrey knows how powerful dance can be to the individual person. He firmly believes in Jewels mission and takes great care in providing for it. Mr Andrey is the host and the public speaking coordinator at Jewels Festival.

Our Judges