Pasha Kambalov
Artistic Director

PASHA KAMBALOV began dancing at the age of eight in his hometown of Syktyvkar, Russia. At the age of 14, he was accepted to the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg – the most selective ballet school in Russia and the feeder school for what is now known as the Mariinsky Ballet, one of the finest ballet companies in the world. Following his graduation from the school at age 17, Pasha danced with Donetsk Ballet in the Ukraine and the Komi Republic State Opera and Ballet in Russia, and toured extensively throughout the USSR, the United States and Europe. He danced in the corps de ballet, he danced principal roles, and everything in between.

In his early 20’s, while touring with a ballet company in the United States, Pasha made the difficult decision to defect to the U.S. He arrived in Wilmington in 1994 as a principal dancer with Russian Ballet Theatre of Delaware, and danced with that company until it folded in 1999. That fall, he and his wife Kristina, also a dancer with Russian Ballet Theatre, opened Russian Ballet Center of Delaware in Newport, DE. In November of 1999, the Kambalovs created the non-profit First State Ballet Theatre (FSBT). 

Today, The School of First State Ballet Theatre conducts classes six days a week in its studios in The Grand Opera House and at its new satellite location in the Dupont Country Club. FSBT students have won awards in international ballet competitions, been accepted at some of the country's elite ballet schools, and danced professionally all over the world. Students come from Delaware (all three counties), Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, and students attending our Summer Intensive programs have come from as far away as Arizona and Florida.

But Pasha’s accomplishments and influence are not limited to the activities of the School. In 2004, FSBT began collaborating with The Grand administration on Danceworks!, an educational outreach program for children ages 3 to 9 from schools in the City of Wilmington. Each year, once a week for 30 weeks, as many as 230 students travel to the FSBT studios for a one-hour dance class. The program culminates in a performance for parents and peers in The Baby Grand Theater. Since 2004, over one thousand children from the City of Wilmington – at least 75% of whom are from low-income families and are considered at-risk – have gone through Danceworks!, the largest dance outreach program of its kind in Delaware.

While Pasha and Kristina were building the school and its programs, Pasha never lost sight of his dream to bring professional dance back to Delaware after the closing of Russian Ballet Theatre. In 2008, Pasha and Kristina secured several sponsors and hired ten dancers, three of whom were former students of the School. They began their first season as a professional resident ballet company with two separate programs at The Freeman stage in Selbyville, Don Quixoteand a mixed-bill program of new contemporary choreography and classical repertoire at The Grand, and The Nutcrackerat both The Grand and at Del Tech in Georgetown.

Today FSBT comprises 21 professional dancers from as far away as Japan. The 2021-2022 season will begin with three free performances in all three counties in Delaware and continues with a five-production series at The Grand Opera House. 

FSBT’s activities under Pasha’s leadership are not limited to teaching and performing. Pasha leads lecture demonstrations and produces outreach performances for audiences ranging from age three years to seniors, in schools, museums, retirement communities and a multitude of other venues statewide. Since 2008, Pasha and the FSBT dancers have held lecture demonstrations or performances for over one thousand Delawareans at locations including The Arsht Center, Wilmington Montessori School, Delaware Children’s Museum, Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Warner Elementary School, Shortlidge Academy, Rockwood Park and Museum, Westminster Village Continuing Care in Dover, and many more. 

Three years ago Pasha took on the challenge of creating a new ballet competition at The Grand Opera House. He invited one of his company dancers to become the director, with himself and Kristina as mentors, and the team they assembled launched the first National Ballet Competition (NBC) in March 2019.Dancers from all over the U.S. and as far away as Italy, have competed, the judges all are distinguished artists and leaders in the dance world, taught master classes. Over $85,000 in scholarships to prestigious summer programs were awarded last year.

For over twenty years, Pasha Kambalov has influenced the landscape of the arts in Delaware. His passion and generosity have touched countless Delawareans, from the smallest dancer in The Nutcracker, to senior citizens who have faithfully attended his Open Classes for years, to the members of our Board of Directors who are continually inspired by his vision. Today First State Ballet Theatre is widely recognized as Delaware’s gold standard in ballet education and performance.

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