Yuri Nikitenko graduated from the A. V. Seleznev Choreographic Institute, 

Alma-Ata, with honors in 1985. He performed classical and contemporary repertoire as a Principal dancer with Theatres throughout Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. During his performing career, he worked with ballet legends such as Marina Semyonova and acclaimed choreographers like Georgi Aleksidze, Alla Sigalova, among others. Now the Artistic Director of The Academy of Russian Ballet in Virginia (YAGP Outstanding School 2023), his students have received scholarships to ballet schools around the world and have won awards and medals at competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix and World Ballet Grand Prix. He was named “Outstanding Teacher” by Youth America Grand Prix in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.