Blog

Ballet Petite Manager Nancy Perenti and Aleksandra Efimova

Ballet Petite is called “petite” for a reason: The vast majority of their dance students are between the ages of 2 and 5 years old.

A successful dance school with four locations in McLean, VA; Potomac, MD; Gaithersburg, MD; and Bethesda, MD; Ballet Petite offers parents a unique curriculum that combines dance with storytime and dress-up.

“Each class we read them a story and then we act out a story through dance,” explains manager Nancy Perenti, adding that each level has its own set of stories with its own set of costumes and props.

Ballet Petite serves about 2,000 students among its four locations, and it operates dance boutiques in two of the locations, selling everything from ballet shoes and tights to crafts, toys, jewelry and tutus.

An authorized Growing Through Arts® retailer, Ballet Petite has been carrying the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella storybooks and Practice & Play Books since early fall 2011, and Pereti is looking forward to adding more Growing Through Arts® products to her inventory.

Pereti says the Practice & Play Books have been great sellers — perfect for Ballet Petite’s young age group.

With the storybooks, Pereti says parents are impressed with the questions that are sprinkled throughout the book that are designed to get children thinking about morals and values.

And, of course, parents love the pictures, too. “I think what they really love is the illustrations,” she says. “They’re so colorful and whimsical.”

To inquire about carrying Growing Through Arts® books, toys, costumes and accessories in your store, please contact Nic Ilieff atni@aleksandra.com or call 312-332-7200 ext. 505.

Aleksandra Efimova and Tatiana Klik, executive director of Bright Future International

I am truly inspired by the humanitarian efforts my fellow Russian-Americans are doing to improve the lives of children around the world.

Bright Future International, founded by Russian-Americans, is dedicated to encouraging children to develop compassion, self worth, humility and a desire to help others. Based in Kildeer, IL, the organization aids children in Russia, Rwanda, Panama, Burundi and the United States.

On Jan. 21, I was privileged to attend a fundraising gala in Chicago for Bright Future International that featured exquisite ballet performances, singers from the Metropolitan Opera and famous musicians from Russia. Many Russian-Americans from all over the Chicago area attended the black-tie affair to support the cause.

The goal of the gala was to raise money for BFI’s new initiative, “Everything Real ― to Children,” which will launch after-school programs at local community centers in Chicago that will encourage children to help each other, work together as a team, and enhance their self-esteem.

Founded in September 2010, BFI has already organized several projects and awareness campaigns. This Christmas, stars like Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Jordin Sparks, Larry King and others came together to make a music video to promotes the idea of peace and tolerance despite differences in race, religion, sex and class.

At the gala, I was moved to bid on an auction item to appear in the organization’s next video campaign, and I was lucky enough to win!

I am proud to support such a forward-thinking organization, and I wish them the greatest success.

Aleksandra Efimova, Eugene Leung, and Dragana Petrovic at DePaul University.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, I had the honor of speaking to students at DePaul University as part of an International Business Etiquette Panel.

The discussion was organized by two students groups, Future Global Executives and Ascend, and was designed to give students an insight into the do’s and don’ts of conducting business in different parts of the world.

For example, if you arrive late to a meeting in Germany, you will be severely judged, but in Argentina, it’s expected that you arrive at least 30 minutes late to dinner. If you do business in Kuwait, it’s essential to establish a level of trust first, and in Russia, it’s frowned upon to show the soles of your shoes.

As students enter today’s workforce, many of them will be dealing with clients and companies all over the world, so it’s important for today’s generation to understand the nuances of different cultures.

As someone who has been conducting international business since I was 20 years old, when I began importing pointe shoes from Russia and selling them in the United States, I was proud to share my experience with the students.

Others who spoke on the panel included Eugene Leung, who has held senior positions at companies including Arthur Andersen, Protiviti and Crowe Horwath; and Dragana Petrovic, president and founder of the International Brokerage Group, a company with headquarters in Chicago and a branch office in Bahrain.

Iryna Mogilevich, the student president of the Future Global Executives club, says the students loved the event.

“Hearing about [Aleksandra’s] experience in conducting business in Russia was truly insightful,” she said.

Sometimes, a passion for dance is passed down through the generations.

That was definitely the case for Harriet Berlin, owner of Artistic Costumes and Dance Fashions, Inc., located in Towson, Md.

Harriet’s father, Max Krents, was a pointe shoe cobblesmith, who made pointe shoes lovingly by hand. He was so renowned for his expert knowledge that he fit many of the most famous dancers of his day who lived near Washington, DC, including Susan Jaffe and Goldie Hawn.

Max and his wife, Edna, opened Artistic Costumes in 1951, selling dancewear and pointe shoes to ballerinas in the greater Washington area, and Harriet began working at her father’s store in the late 1970s. Today, she continues the tradition of providing only the best dancewear and theater costumes to her customers.

“It’s in my blood,” Harriet says of running a dancewear store. “I love that I never know who’s going to walk in the door.”

A long-time seller of Russian Pointe® shoes, Harriet’s favorite Russian Pointe® models are the Entrada, the Rubin and the Sapfir. Harriet says she loves Russian Pointe’s elegant lines and superb craftsmanship.

“They’re my go-to shoe,” Harriet says. “I like the way someone who has a poor-looking arch, when they get up on pointe (in Russian Pointe® shoes), they look even better.”

The store is comprised of two sections: a 2,000 square-foot dance section and a 3,500 square-foot section devoted to everything for the theater, from wigs and costumes to fake eyelashes. The store serves dancers of all ages and provides costumes for many high school plays throughout the region.

Harriet says she still gets joy out of fitting girls for their very first pair of pointe shoes and seeing the excitement on their faces, and she says it’s gratifying to know that she fitted many of the dance teachers in her area when they were little girls themselves.

“In an age where there’s a lot of Internet shopping… it’s nice to see some loyalty and see them grow up,” Harriet says.

If you’re interested in becoming an Authorized Russian Pointe® Retailer, please contact Molly Beck at mbeck@russianpointe.com or 312-332-7200 ext. 201.

Aleksandra Enterprises team members Molly Beck and Nic Ilieff recently returned from the Southwest Dance Retail Show ― which took place Jan. 15-16 at the Grapevine Convention Center, about 30 minutes outside of Dallas ― where they had the chance to meet with many of the dancewear retailers who carry both Russian Pointe® shoes and Growing Through Arts® books and toys.

“It was really nice to meet the retailers face-to-face,” Molly said.

Nic said many of the retailers were excited to see the Growing Through Arts® line of educational books and toys in person and many were so enthralled with the charming books and toys that they signed up to be authorized retailers on the spot.

“They just loved that we are offering something educational in the arts, because that’s a dying breed,” Nic said, adding that retailers were especially drawn to the colorful Ballet Series Alphabet Set, which includes removable letters that are illustrated to match ballet terms.

Molly said the Russian Pointe® name is stronger than ever, adding that several retailers were eager to start carrying the shoes because of the brand’s reputation for quality and its growing popularity among dancers.

Molly also conducted a pointe shoe fitting seminar ― always a popular event at the trade show ― where retailers had the opportunity to learn more about choosing the proper Russian Pointe® model for different types of feet.
“I had a wonderful time,” Molly said of the trade show. “There were long days, but it was great to meet and interact with everybody.”

Look for Russian Pointe® and Growing Through Arts® at two more trade shows in the next two months: The Atlantic Dance Show in Baltimore Jan. 29 to 30 and the Midwest Regional Dance Show in Skokie, IL, Feb. 12 to 13. To make an appointment during the show, please contact Molly at mbeck@russianpointe.com or Nic at ni@aleksandra.com.

Aleksandra Efimova poses with Urba Baby's store manager Rebecca Chagas

On Jan. 10, I had the pleasure of hosting a storytime at Urba Baby, a hip baby store located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

An energetic and fun group of children and parents attended the event and listened intently as I read The Sleeping Beauty Ballet by Aleksandra® storybook.

After I read the stories, I spoke with the parents about the profound effect that studying ballet and being exposed to the arts at an early age in Russia had on my life, and I explained that I wanted to write these books as a way to inspire children to have a deep love and appreciation for the arts.

Rebecca Chagas, the store manager at Urba Baby, said copies of the books flew off the shelves after the event. “One mom bought three of them for when her daughter gets older,” Chagas said.

Chagas said she is impressed with the quality of the Growing Through Arts® line, and she said she likes the fact that the books help teach children about ballet terms and challenge children to learn vocabulary that is advanced for their age.

“I think the idea of introducing kids to terms they would encounter is really good, and the way she incorporates them into the story is good, too,” Chagas said.

Chagas said she noticed that the parents who attended the event were different from the store’s usual customers, so she was especially happy that the event drew new people into her store.

If you are interested in hosting a storytime or book signing in your retail store, please contact Nic Illief at ni@aleksandra.com or 312-332-7200 ext. 505.

I was recently honored to be invited by the Russian government to join a delegation of about 50 people from the United States to visit Moscow.

The trip was organized by Rossotrudnichestvo — The (Russian) Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation — and its mission was to promote a more positive view of Russia’s economic climate to Americans.

The trip focused on learning more about Russian technology, cultural exchange and networking. We met with several high-level government leaders, including J.R. Beyrle, the Ambassador of the United States to Russia; Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow; Georgiy Tosunyan, president of the Association of Russian Banks and more.

During our visit, we learned about Russia’s technological capabilities and how Russia is adapting to a new global environment by visiting Rosnano, a Russian governmental organization that specializes in nano technology, traveling to the Vladimir region to take a tour of one of Kraft Foods’ 12 Russian factories, and visiting the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

We participated in many seminars and discussions about the business and trade relationship between the Unite States and Russia, hoping to increase understand about both cultures and strengthen economic ties between the two countries. We also met with the Moscow media and toured the national TV station, Russia 24.

Of course, it wasn’t all work. We also were treated to many cultural outings, including a trip to the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, the Kremlin, Alexander Gardens, and several monasteries and cathedrals in Moscow.

With Russia’s recent admission to the WTO, these meetings were a wonderful way to build a strong foundation of good relationships between the United States and Russia. I hope that these meetings serve as a stepping stone to continued and expanding partnerships between the United States and Russia.

The welfare of children has always been an important cause to me, so I was especially grateful to be able to travel to Moscow earlier this month to attend a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of St. Petersburg.

Every year, the hospital holds a spectacular Winter Ball to raise much-needed funds for the organization. This year, the elegant ball was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow, and featured many prominent Russian businessmen, politicians and celebrities including TV host Andrei Malakhov, GQ Russia Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Uskov, Princess Maria-Anna Golitsyna, Mrs. Globe 2011 Alisa Krylova, Italy’s ambassador to Russia Antonio Zanardi and more.

The event featured dinner and dancing, and of course very fashionable outfits!

At the end of the night, the organization had raised more than $1 million Euros ― enough money to run the hospital for an entire year.

I was so proud to be able to support the Children’s Hospital, which does so much good for so many children in Russia and is located in my birthplace. My wish is that the hospital continues to help children for many years to come!

We’re thrilled at how many dancewear stores and children’s boutiques have started carrying the Growing Through Arts® line of educational books and toys in your stores!

To help you maximize profits, we’ve put together some ideas on how you can better merchandise our books and toys in your store.

• Display your books on a small stand in the open position. Let everyone see the beautiful illustrations and read a little snippet of each story.
• Place a Stage Scene Play Set and an Alphabet Set open on a table that’s low enough for children to reach. Let kids pick out an outfit for Cinderella or explore ballet terms with the bendable, sticky pieces. These toys are huge sellers!
• Pair the books with the accessories. Surround the books with the companion Stage Scene Play Sets, Alphabet Sets, tutus and ballet slippers, all from Growing Through Arts®. This will create an entire ballet experience for your customers and boost your sales.
• Request a complimentary Growing Through Arts® sign to put in your window. Create buzz in your store with this 16×20 high-gloss poster that will let everyone know that you are a Growing Through Arts® retailer!

To order our new line of adorable tutus, tiaras and other dress-up accessories, or stock up on books and toys, please contact Nic Ilieff at ni@aleksandra.com or call 312-332-7200 ext. 505.

At Growing Through Arts®, we hope our storybooks inspire children to use their imagination to become more creative, active, and engaged citizens of the world.

That’s why, beginning in January 2012, we’ll be expanding our product line to include items children can use for dress-up so they can act out the stories in the books and let their creativity soar.

Our new line of dress-up accessories includes leotards, ballet shoes, tights, tutus, and tiaras ― all made with the same commitment to quality and excellence you have come to expect from Growing Through Arts® and Russian Pointe®.

Here’s a look at our new line of dress-up accessories:

Leotards: Dress up like your favorite Growing Through Arts® character! Each leotard matches a different book: Red (Nutcracker), Blue (Snow Maiden), White (Cinderella), Pink (Sleeping Beauty), Black (Music Series). Comes with a rhinestone apple on back. SM, M, M/L.

Ballet Shoes: Handcrafted in Russia of whisper-soft canvas, these ballet slippers have a larger-weave cotton insole for perfect “grab” in tights or bare feet. Elastic drawstring. Elastics pre-sewn at sides of heel. Pink, black. Girls sizes 9.5-1.5, boys sizes 8.5-13.5.

Tights: This 88% Supplex Nylon Spandex footed tight features no-sag spandex to ensure a proper fit and a knit waistband for ease of movement. Children will love wearing them to dance class or for dress-up! Available with or without rhinestone apple. SM/M or M/L.

Tutus: These adorable tutus are soft and flouncy ― perfect for your young aspiring dancer. Each color matches a different Growing Through Arts® book: Red (Nutcracker), Blue (Snow Maiden), White (Cinderella), Pink (Sleeping Beauty), Black (Music Series). SM, M, M/L.

Tiaras: Sparkle like your favorite storybook princess with these beautiful tiaras! Choose from four styles.

Pre-order these accessories for your store today! To place an order, contact Nic Ilieff at ni@aleksandra.com or call 312-332-7200 ext. 505.