Simon Kazantsev was born in Russia and attended the famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where he successfully completed his dance training in eight years. Upon graduation, he joined the Stanislavsky Ballet, one of Moscow's leading companies. He toured internationally with that troupe, dancing solo roles in such classics as Giselle, Swan Lake, La Esmeralda, Le Corsaire, and the Nutcracker, as well as performing prominent roles in contemporary ballets.
Jennie Begley was born in Manila, Philippines and later moved to Colorado where she began her ballet training at the age of two at Metropolitan Academy of Dance and then later at the International Ballet School. When she was 16 she received her first professional roles in David Taylor Dance Theatre's Nutcracker where she danced 8 different roles. Jennie was a featured dancer on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance and then made her move to New York City when she received a contract with the world renowned Complexions Contemporary Ballet.