RUSSIA

Stanislav Issaev serves as coach for Team Russia. Issaev was a principal dancer for many years with the Moscow Ballet Theater and was named People's Artist of Russia, the highest artistic honor anyone can receive in the country. The judge for Team Russia is Mikhail Smirnov. Smirnov is director and founder of Barynya, a hugely successful Russian folk dancing company. Performing for Team Russia are a soloist from the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet, a contemporary soloist from the Bolshoi, a ballroom duo, and a group performing the Cossack style of dance.