Greetings family and friends!
Welcome to Wonder Youth Foundation and Summer Master Classes of 2025.
Dance is a fundamental piece to the world of performing arts, and it is with this belief that the foundation came into existence. Einstein once said that dancers are the athletes of God; it is with passion, conviction and persistence that dancers pave their path towards sharing what can only be told through movement, and it is with that same drive that Wonder Youth aims to build bridges of opportunity for youth dancers in our mission to share, inspire, support and elevate.
Regardless of your background, there is immense opportunity to learn and create here at our Summer Master Classes. There is a place for every dancer to collaborate and ourish in a uni ed, artistic space. I hope that you take from these classes a new perspective on the various styles that rule the world of artistic movement.
Sincerely,
Shannon Tsa i Wonder Youth Foundation
Wonder Youth Foundation is a registered public charity, national dance organization. The foundation’s desire is to support youths with resources and a platform to spread the art of classical ballet and contemporary dance to communities aboard.
Summer Master Classes 2025
Date: 6/7, 6/8, 2025
Location: USC Glorya Kaufman
International Dance Center
June 7 - June 8 Class Schedule :
Level I:
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Ballet Technique. Room 104 Ruby (M)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Contemporary. Room 104 Ruby (M)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Hip Hop. Room 106 Topaz (W)
Teachers: Alexey Kulpin, Justin Epstein
Level II:
12:00 PM - 1:45 PM: Ballet Technique. Room 104 Ruby (M)
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM: Classical Variation. Room 104 Ruby (M)
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM: Contemporary. Room 104 Ruby (M)
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Choreography. Room 104 Ruby (M)
Teachers: Alexey Kulpin, Justin Epstein
Faculty
ALEXEY KULPIN
Wonder Youth Foundation’s Board President.
Alexey Kulpin is a graduate of the Institute of Culture and Art in St. Petersburg, Russia. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ballet pedagogy and choreography. In 1998, he was the Grand Prix winner at the Muse of St. Petersburg Ballet Competition.
As a professional dancer, Mr. Kulpin has performed soloist and principal roles in both classical and contemporary ballets in Russia, Israel, and the United States. He danced professionally with St. Petersburg State Opera Ballet, St. Petersburg State Male Theatre by Mihailovsky, Ballet Israel, City Ballet of San Diego, Grand Rapids Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theater, Stars of St. Petersburg Municipal Theater of Music and Dance, and Krasnoyarsk Dance Ensemble. His roles included Basilio in Don Quixote, James in La Sylphide, Prince Ivan in Firebird, Spirit of the Rose in Le Spectre de la Rose, Swan Lake Pas de Trois, and the male leads in Tarantella and Maurice Bejart’s Trik Trak.
An educator, choreographer, and a lifelong passion for classical ballet, Mr. Kulpin has taught since 2005 and staged classical variations to full-length ballets. He contributed his passion and knowledge to institutions and companies, including the Ballet Israel School, City Ballet of San Diego, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Charleston Ballet Company, where he taught company classes and served as director of the Charleston Ballet Young Artists Group. He also served as principal ballet teacher for Northern California Dance Conservatory. Mr. Kulpin is a faculty member of the Harid Conservatory, a jury member for Youth American Grand Prix, and long-time contributor and jury member for Youth International Ballet Competition.
JUSTIN EPSTEIN Faculty
Justin Epstein is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Los Angeles, CA with over 17 years of experience in hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet, modern, musical theatre, contemporary and partnering. Mr. Epstein joined Wonder Youth share his passion and creativity, bringing forth an abundance of skill sets to Wonder Youth and our participants.
Justin has performed live for the Los Angeles Avengers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Pac-12 Championship Halftime Shows and can be seen dancing in music videos with Brooklyn Jai, MNEK, Matoma, and Kiana Lede. Justin graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance as a member of the inaugural class at the brand new USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where he had the opportunity to perform the works of Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian, and Dwight Rhoden, including original work by William Forsythe, d. Sable Grimes, and Jodie Gates. Since graduating, Justin has co-founded RYBG, a multidisciplinary creative production studio rooted in choreography.
Faculty
TRACY SHEN
Tracy Shen, a Chinese American dancer and educator from Los Angeles, brings over 23 years of comprehensive training in classical ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz dance. Ms. Shen joined Wonder Youth to foster the growth and creativity of youth dancers along their dance journey.
Tracy holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of California, Irvine, where she was honored as a William Gillespie scholar, and has trained with distinguished mentors and institutions including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and BodyTra c. With 12+ years of dance teaching experience, notably at Steps on Broadway in NYC, Ms. Shen has performed professionally with esteemed companies and choreographers such as Mike Esperanza, Craft Dance Collective, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, and Chase Brock Experience. She is certi ed in Pilates Mat and Apparatus instruction as well as barre tness.
Ms. Shen graduated from the University of LaVerne with a California teaching credential in PE and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Education Technology. Currently, in her fourth year as the Dance Director at San Marino High School, she inspires and empowers students to nd their own voice through dance.
Become a Sponsor
To make a charitable donation, become a corporate sponsor or make an endowment gift. Please email Wonder Youth Foundation at treasurer@wonderyouthfoundation.org . Your gift will fund our extensive study programs and annual events. Providing solid nancial ground work for the foundation continues supporting our mission and purpose for the dance art community.
Youth Grants
Wonder Youth Foundation Youth Grants are unique in design and award youths with exceptional talents in classical ballet and contemporary repertoire. Applications are open between November - December each year.
Congratulations to Wonder Youth 2025 grant recipients Amelia Lisowe, Ella Way and Karis Han !
Our Values
TO SHARE. TO INSPIRE.
TO SUPPORT. TO ELEVATE.
Wonder Youth aims to nurture a passionate relationship with communities who share our fundamental values. For the tremendous support beyond measure, we thank you for the funding and time contributed to support the arts:
NeonSky, San Marino Titans, San Marino Uni ed School District, e USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center, e Langham Huntington Pasadena, e Dance Store Los Angeles, Wells Fargo, Christopher Flores, and the general public who raised funds for this program.
Wonder Youth would like to extend our special gratitude to the university, the Youth Protection Program for safeguarding our participants, master teachers Justin Epstein and Tracy Shen, and volunteers , for their time.
WWW.WONDERYOUTHFOUNDATION.ORG
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