If you want to know what perseverance looks like in the ballet world, step inside Osipova Ballet Academy on any given afternoon. In the short span of five years, the Academy has gone from just two cozy studios to eight spacious ones spread across two vibrant locations in Mountain View—1495 W El Camino Real and 2224 Old Middlefield Way. The walls themselves seem to hum with the energy of children chasing dreams on slick floorboards, from their first plié at age three to the glowing stage lights of international competition.
And the world, it turns out, has taken notice.
A Journey Built on Community and Grit
When Dr. Marina Osipova opened her doors in 2021, her ambition seemed almost outsized: bring Vaganova ballet—one of Russia’s most revered traditions—to the very heart of Silicon Valley. Fast forward a half-decade, and you’ll find a school that’s bursting at the seams, a laboratory of discipline and joy that’s earned its fair share of hardware: Best of Mountain View (Mountain View Voice, 2025), YAGP Outstanding School (2025), two YAGP Outstanding Teacher honors (2023 and 2024), and the first-ever Artistic Impact Award from the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce (2025).
Awards stack up, but it’s the official nods—from the U.S. Congress, California state leaders, Santa Clara County, and the mayor herself—that really hit home. Each one is a finger-snap of recognition for what OBA is doing: making the local arts scene richer and more inclusive, year after year.
When Summer Is Synonymous with Ballet
Summer 2025 was a season to remember. OBA opened its doors to nearly 200 children between ages 3 and 8 for its youngest camps, and 154 more for its Summer Intensive—kids who came not only from California but Brazil, Korea, Canada, Colombia, and all corners of the U.S. Their reasons were as varied as their backgrounds: some wanted serious technique, others just a chance to dance with peers who love the discipline as much as they do. Both groups found what they were looking for—and left a little stronger, a little taller.
Raising the Next Generation, One Performance at a Time
There’s an old belief in ballet that perfection is never quite possible, but you chase it all the same. This year’s school performance, Thumbelina, involved 214 students and a staggering 332 costumes—a logistical high-wire act pulled off by an army of tireless staff, teachers, parent volunteers, and, maybe most important, determined kids. The applause felt as much for the community as for the spectacle.
And the results speak for themselves. In just this season, OBA students have brought home 10 gold, 13 silver, and 12 bronze medals from competitions like Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and California Dance Classics (CDC). Fifty-one more received honorable mention or top 12 placements. All told, 42 dancers qualified for the prestigious YAGP Finals in Tampa—for many, the culmination of years of training.
And what’s a win if you don’t share it? This spring’s OBA Gala will showcase not just solos and ensembles from these competitions, but also the dreams and work ethic behind them. If you want to see what’s possible when young people pour heart and discipline into art, it’s a don’t-miss event.
Not Just a School, a Family
One thing students, parents, and volunteers all agree on: OBA is as much about connection as choreography. When Dr. Osipova addressed the audience before Thumbelina, she singled out the parents’ dedication and teachers’ passion—not just as a pleasantry, but as the secret ingredient behind every child’s pirouette.
“We are glad to be united with you in our love of ballet,” she said. And she meant it.
The academy’s values—discipline, artistry, perseverance—shape not only competitive dancers but also compassionate and confident people, ready for whatever stage—literal or otherwise—awaits them next.
Looking Ahead and Up
Five years since it hung up its first barre, Osipova Ballet Academy is no longer just an ambitious newcomer. It’s a pillar of the Bay Area’s arts landscape—a place where children find their spotlight, and where a community learns, season by season, the quiet kind of grit required to chase big dreams.
If you ask anyone at OBA, they’ll tell you: the story isn’t even close to finished.
