Edouard Kouchnarev is the Artistic Director and Lead Choreographer at the Brighton Ballet Theater (BBT), a NYC-based dance company. For over 18 years, he has been working with BBT and its success climbed to a new level once Edouard came on board as a visionary choreographer in 1995. With his direction and creative energy, BBT has realized its dream of being a presenter of groundbreaking new choreography of emerging dance in the United States. Mr. Kouchnarev combines modern dance, character dance together with classical ballet techniques to create a euphoric dance onstage and specializes on choreography for children and teens.

With over 15 new ballets and 300 pieces over the past 18 years, Edouard's choreography for Brighton Ballet Theater Company is a thoroughly enjoyable visual experience. Some of his original repertoire includes "The Giant Turnip," also known as "The Radish," "Ugly Duckling" and P. Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album" that have premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in June, 2013.

Throughout the years, Mr. Kouchnarev has been creating a unique viewing experience for BBT Company's audience. Children dance onstage with professional ballet dancers to create an extraordinary extravaganza of Broadway proportions. The seamless nature of the dance styles in BBT's choreography truly captivates the audience. Dancers serve as actors to convey major themes involving nature, the battle between good and evil and the whole range of human relationships and emotions. Edouard's ideas have inspired countless dancers to push their creative limits.

2009

Children’s Festival of Russian Culture, Saturday, May 30, 2009

Fairy Tales in Motion event at Kid’s World (Workshop)

2000

Brighton Beach Jubilee, Brooklyn, NY

Special presentation for New Jersey State Museum’s exhibition “Imperial Russia and the New World.”

Ongoing lecture-demonstration in Brooklyn Public School, P.S. 152

International Jewish Arts Festival of Long Island, New York

1999

Annual “The Nutcracker” Ballet performance, Brooklyn College

“Follies a la Russe” show at the Tattoo Club, New York

International Jewish Arts Festival of Long Island

Russian Folk Lecture-Demonstrations in the Brooklyn Public Schools

Special Presentation at the Tribeca Theater, New York for MetLife Children Drawing Competition

Special Presentation at the Grand Opening of the Russian Tea Room

Special Presentation at the U.S. Navy Base, Target 2000

1998

Annual “The Nutcracker” Ballet performance, Brooklyn College

Annual BBT Festival, Lincoln High School, Brooklyn “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Russian Folk Lectures-Demonstrations in various Long Island-area Public Schools

Special Presentation “Christmas Celebration” at the Jacob Javits Center

International Jewish Arts Festival of Long Island

1997

Annual “The Nutcracker” Ballet performance, Brooklyn College

Annual BBT Festival, Lincoln High School, Brooklyn “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Special Performance for Christian Dior’s “Dolce Vita” and Stolichnaya Flavors

Chase Manhattan Bank Holiday Festival

Russian Folk presentation for “Econophone”, Carnegie Hall, New York

Special Performance at the New York Stock Exchange

1996

Russian-American Dance Festival, Sullivan County Community College

Opening night for the “Faberge in America” exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art, Feb. 13, 1996

Special Performance at the New York Stock Exchange

1995

Annual “The Nutcracker” Ballet performance, Brooklyn College

Ellis Island Dance Festival

“Un Bal Russe” for the Jewish Museum Russian Masked Ball

Welcome Back to Brooklyn Festival

The 14th Annual International Dance Festival of Brooklyn

Russian-American Dance Festival at the Sullivan County Community College

1993

11th Annual Jewish Arts Festival of Long Island

September 1993

1992

Edouard's choreography appeared in performance sponsored by Sprint International Telephone Company

Edouard's choreography appeared in performance sponsored by the International Chess Championship

1987

Brighton Ballet Theater/School of Russian American Ballet is formed with six students at a Midwood, Brooklyn dance studio.

1989

The school grows to over 100 students.

1991

With the fall of the Soviet Union, over the next few years tens of thousands of new immigrants settle in Brooklyn, New York. Through the early 1990s, many professional dancers, teachers and families start coming to BBT. The school's reputation for excellence becomes common knowledge and the school population reaches over 500 students.

1992

First Full-length ballet staged by BBT Company Carlson Who Lives on the Roof Choreographer: Elizabeth Shipiatsky

1995

Edouard Kouchnarev joins Brighton Ballet Theater as a dancer. BBT stages first major Nutcracker performance.

1996

In honor of the first ever listing of a Russian company - VimpelCom (NYSE: VIP) on the New York Stock Exchange, Brighton Ballet Theater presented a performance on the trading floor in November 1996. Media coverage included reports by NBC, CNN, ABC, CNBC, Bloomberg Television and others.

2000

The Nutcracker Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev An original choreography. “A Winter Fairy Tale” departs from the traditional Nutcracker Ballet by portraying the beautiful international diversity of the world by representing the countries of Spain, Nigeria, China, India, France and Russia. The ballet culminates in the Land of Freedom rather than the traditional Land of Sweets.

2006

Four Seasons “Mavka” Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev An original choreography. This original 30-minute ballet is inspired by the famous Ukrainian novel “Song of the Woods.” The ballet is set to the music of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons music. Performed by six professional dancers and 70 BBT/School of Russian American dancers. In this enchanting and mystical tale, Mother Nature and her daughter Mavka fights against the evil magic of the wicked Gypsy witch. In creating this piece, Kouchnarev created a ballet that celebrates the rich history, culture and magic nature of Ukraine, while using classical music in a tribute to the forces and elements of our natural world.

The Radish Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev The Radish, pronounced Repka in Russian, is an ancient Russian folk-tale that has been retold to children for hundreds of years. BBT's original ballet honoring Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Jewish musical and dance traditions.

2003

The Nanny’s Story, “Tchaikovsky Children’s Album” Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev An original choreography. “The Children’s Album” is a cycle of 24 piece that Pytor Tchaikovsky wrote for his beloved nephew Volodia when the boy was learning to play the piano.

2004

The Ugly Duckling Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev Performed by 20 professional dancers and 50 BBT advanced division students. This ballet tells us the timeless tale of the transformation of the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, all the while teaching children the invaluable lesson of inner beauty.

2005

BBT moves to its new home at Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach through the assistance of members of the community and KCC President Dr. Regina Peruggi.

Sunrise Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev An original choreography. Sunrise is a ballet inspired by the poetry of music. The ballet explores the symbolic connection between dance and the hidden world of nature and the movement and spirit of trees, the sun and the rain.

2006

Orchestra Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev A one-act new and original ballet production featuring the popular music of M. Ravel. “Orchestra” features professional dancers and students from BBT/School of Russian American Ballet. Both the young and the mature dancers of Brighton Ballet Theater recreate not only the voices of the instruments through the art of dance, but also transfer the characteristics of the musicians themselves; each of which have their own personal weaknesses and strengths. The main goal of the production is to prove that a large company is especially in need of a wise and powerful leader, who is capable of unifying the people.

2007

BBT Celebrates its 20th anniversary on May 20, 2007 together with the Brooklyn Business Improvement District.

20th Annual Children's Festival "The World of Dance" at the Leon Goldstein Performing Arts Center, Kingsborough Community College.

Aria Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev Libretto & choreography by Edouard Kouchnarev. An original contemporary ballet. Conceived as a poetic tribute to womanhood, the classical and modern dance composition moves through five stages of a woman’s life, praising her strength, sacrifice, compassion and enduring love.

2008

The Kingdom of the Shades from Petipa’s ballet La Bayadere Choreographers: Edouard Kouchnarev and Larisa Akinicheva

2009

Sunrise Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev An original choreography. Sunrise is a ballet inspired by the poetry of music. Edouard Kouchnarev aims to take us on a journey through the enchanting world of nature. The ballet explores the symbolic connection between dance and the hidden world of nature and the movement and spirit of trees, the sun and the rain. The stunning costumes feature an array of colors in celebration of nature.

The Enormous Turnip “The Radish” Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev The Radish, pronounced Repka in Russian, is an ancient Russian folk-tale that has been retold to children for hundreds of years. Now Brighton Ballet Theater/School of Russian American ballet has created an original ballet honoring Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Jewish musical and dance traditions. Along with Russian orchestra accompaniment, the ballet features seven professional dancers and 70 BBT students. The folk ballet also includes artists from the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble "Iskra" and live folk music by “Russian Carnival” and "The Golden Rooster” a children’s singing company.

2010

The Ugly Duckling Choreographer: Edouard Kouchnarev

2012

BBT Celebrates 25 Years and hosts its 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert in Brooklyn