Briannah Kocinski

Briannah began her classical ballet training at North Ballet Academy at the age of three when the studio opened and trained in Vaganova ballet for fifteen years under the expertise of many high caliber instructors such as Ms. Stephanie Heston, Mr. Alexander Smirnov, Ms. Breanna Dvorak, Ms. Maddy Werner, Mr. Luke Tucker, Ms. Katherine Hesterberg, and Ms. Jadyn Reddy. 

In 2023, Briannah completed the Vaganova syllabus and was among North Ballet Academy’s first full program (Creative Movement through Level 8) graduating class. She has performed in many ballets at North Ballet Academy through her years of training, including the annual Nutcracker, Coppėlia, Les Sylphides, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and many others. She has performed in soloist roles such as Dew Drop, Snow Queen, Stepsister, and Lilac Fairy. 

In addition to her training in Vaganova ballet, Briannah has received training in the styles of contemporary, jazz, various styles of modern including Horton and Cunningham styles, as well as Pilates and PBT (Progressive Ballet Technique). 

Briannah is drawn to all styles of dance and has enjoyed experiencing a variety of styles of dance throughout her training at North Ballet Academy.

Before moving to Duluth in 2024, Briannah instructed classical ballet at North Ballet Academy for a year and a half, and enjoyed both teaching and helping stage manage productions at the studio such as Nutcracker, Giselle, and the annual summer show. 

Currently, she studies Writing and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In the fall, Briannah was given the opportunity to TA ballet under LilaAnn Coates White, and thoroughly appreciated learning more about different approaches to teaching under her expertise. 

Briannah maintains an immense appreciation for the art of dance and strives to provide the same quality instruction she has received throughout her life to her own students. She values correct execution of technique and therefore is passionate about taking the time to notice the small details of choreography and technique in order to build a strong and accurate foundation in her students. Briannah is excited to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of dancers and hopes that each dancer she has the opportunity to work with will grow to share her appreciation and passion for the beautiful and intricate art of ballet.