In 1991 she transitioned to the Small Mariinsky Ballet Company in Leningrad to dance under the direction of Leonid Yakobson. Mrs. Kukseva toured nationally and internationally performing such recognizable works as 9 Tangos and Bach, Wedding Cortege, Arlekinade, Roden’s Sculptures and Pas-de-trois Rossini.
She currently lives and works in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since 2014, Elena is a regular guest of Russian School of Ballet, teaching at holiday Workshops and Winter Intensives, helping RSB students achieve new heights in ballet training, in line with world requirements.