The Alabama Youth Ballet Company

Stevan Grebel, artistic director

Stevan Grebel was trained by the foremost teacher of classical ballet in the world, Alexander Pushkin, at the Kirov Ballet in Russia, in the Vaganova method. No other syllabus develops the elegant long lines, high extensions, musicality, strength and crystal-clear style that is so representative of Vaganova technique. Moreover, Grebel has worked with great teachers,dancers and choreographers such as George Balanchine, Frederic Franklin, Leonide Massine,George Skibine, Edward Caton, Roland Petite, Rudolf Nureyev, Eric Bruhn, Rosella Hightower, Ludmilla Tcherina, Sonia Arova, Ivan Nagy, Dmitri Parlic, John Taras, Maurice Bejart, to name a few. Mr. Grebel's extensive work in ballet makes him a leader in classical ballet training in Alabama, and throughout the world.

Deborah Russell Grebel, associate artistic director and founding director

Deborah Grebel began her training in Birmingham, Alabama with Frances Armstrong. She continued her studies in college at the University of Alabama in Birmngham with Stevan Grebel and Melanie Mihalic. She studied in Cannes, France with Rosella Hightower, Jose Ferrand, Elina Tchernichova and Arlette Castanier. During summer studies in New York and Alabama with David Howard, Melissa Hayden,Violette Verdy, Fred Siretta and Marcus Alford.

During her career as a dancer in the United States and Europe, she worked with renowned artists such as Frederic Franklin, Nikolas Petrov, Edward Caton, Shamil Yagudin and Mira Popovich.

With a B.A. in dance and a MA.Ed in Dance Physiology/Kinesiology, her teaching has spanned 22 years.

Stevan Grebel artistic director 

Board of Directors & Staff

Virginie Walker Upton, Chair

Chris Townes, Vice Chair, Parker & Townes, PC

James Russell, Treasurer, Russell & Associates

Sabrina Murray, Secretary, First Baptist Church of Pelham

Eddie D. McClain, Tameron Honda

John Hollingsworth, dancer, entrepreneur

John Johnsey, Synovus Bank

Deborah Grebeldinger, associate artistic director/founder

Stevan Grebel, artistic director

Alabama Youth Ballet Guild

photos by Igor N. Rykov