Success Story: How an Odessite Became Soloist of the American Ballet Theater - ForumDaily
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A success story: how an Odessa woman became a soloist of the American Ballet Theater

The soloist of the American Ballet Theater Odessa lady Christina Shevchenko told about the love of New York and Mikhail Baryshnikov, as well as the plans of the troupe for the next season, writes Spindrift.

“Since childhood, I dreamed of dancing in the American Ballet Theater,” says Odessa resident Kristina Shevchenko, sitting on the windowsill of her Manhattan apartment, which offers a dizzying view of New York. — Because of Mikhail Baryshnikov, first of all. He is my favorite dancer: as a child I read about how he left the USSR, how much he changed in ABT, and I always wanted to dance in this troupe.” Christina is 28 years old, her idol is 68: she joined ABT almost 20 years after Baryshnikov left.

8 has been dancing for one of the most famous ballet companies in the world for XNUMX years, and this is her second season as a soloist. Next - only the highest level, the dream of all dancers - principal, that is, the lead singer. Shevchenko, as it turned out during the interview, this status is almost in his pocket.

“In the spring I will dance the first part as principal – Kitri in Don Quixote, and then Giselle. I’m so happy!” she gesticulates wildly, risking falling off the windowsill. To all questions about the secrets of success, the funny Christina only smiles and answers with general phrases - they say, you need to be a perfectionist, and also not to give up, and also to be ready to jump above your own head.

Critics know more about Shevchenko's success secrets, who track her premieres and instantly react to reviews in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. They believe that Shevchenko is an exemplary classical ballerina with the iron hardening of a Russian dance school, and also a very artistic and charming girl.

Hardening from Christina Olympic: her dad, a successful gymnast, gave her 3-year-old daughter to an Olympic reserve school, where there were no weekends or indulgences. It was in Odessa: Christina's family lived in the very center, on Deribasovskaya street, and every day her father took her to the famous 59 sports school on Kanatnaya. And on weekends - to the Opera House: Kristinina's mother's friend was a ballerina, and the girl was allowed to go to the saints for the saints - behind the scenes of the theater.

“When I was 4 years old, I watched The Sleeping Beauty from behind the scenes and was stunned. It was so beautiful! Then, apparently, I subconsciously understood what I wanted to do in life.”

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

Christina has a habit of walking a lot from her childhood in Odessa. Now she walks to training and rehearsals. Moreover, from her spacious, bright apartment in Manhattan to Union Square, where the ABT rehearsal studios are located, is a quarter of an hour’s walk, and another 2 minutes to Lincoln Center, where the theater gives its performances. “I walk and additionally train my legs,” the ballerina jokes.

Fans, by the way, believe that this is the most beautiful part of her body: if you look "Instagram“Christina, you might think that she is not a ballerina, but a Hollywood star who is literally pursued by fans. Fans write her passionate compliments and always sign touchingly: “I’m your fan from California, remember last year’s tour?” Hearing this, Christina bursts out laughing, and then waves it off, saying that the fact is that in the States they really love ballet. This is true.

A couple of days before our interview, the American Ballet Theater opened its new season, and all the secular New York gathered at the opening party: Hamish Bowles, Calvin Klein, sisters Olsen, Daria Zhukova, Brooke Shields, choreographer Benjamin Milpier and his wife Natalie Portman. And, of course, politicians - for example, Michelle Obama and lawyer Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, who have been patrons of the theater for many years.

Christina's family left Odessa in the 1996 year - they are classic immigrants who did not understand how to build their lives in independent Ukraine. In Pennsylvania, where they moved, Christina's mother first of all found her ballet school. As a teenager, Shevchenko won all the ballet awards that are possible - for example, in 14 years she became the youngest Grace Kelly laureate in history, which the family of the Princess of Monaco presents to talented artists. The prize gave Kristine a financial opportunity to travel around the world and participate in contests.

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

She recalls with a smile that her beloved Mikhail Baryshnikov, too, was once the winner of this prize, and also George Lucas and Glenn Close.

8 years ago, Christina left Pennsylvania for New York - at the invitation of ABT. “I joined the troupe in December, and I had 5 days to learn the part of Marie in The Nutcracker. I was terribly nervous."

The Odessa native fell in love with New York at first sight: “Everything always works here: if you want, go to the salon, if you want, go to the bar, if you want, go to the theater!” “Everywhere” Christina goes only on Mondays, her only day off: first for a massage, then to a therapist, then to cryotherapy, which helps relax muscles, the most popular procedure among New York dancers. And she devotes her evenings to cooking: her mother taught her to cook borscht and dumplings, and among her friends Shevchenko is known as a master of exotic cuisine.

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

Photo: Instagram / cshevydance

Another non-obvious hobby is sewing. “When we finish the interview, I’ll sew up my ballet shoes,” Christina says simply. “This week I have three rehearsals a day, and I need to get my shoes in order.” When I ask if the theater has a specialist for these purposes, Christina almost gets offended - they say, not a single dancer would trust his shoes to someone else.

This season Shevchenko dances 3 premieres in his native theater. Two classics – “Symphonic Variations” by Cesar Franck, “Variations” by Brahms and a modern one – “Her Notes” choreographed by Jessica Lange. Shevchenko speaks about the latter with trepidation: Lang is famous for experimental productions, and dedicated her new ballet to the music of Fanny Mendelssohn, the sister of that same Mendelssohn and one of the most famous female composers in history, to the theme of feminism. “Dancing feminist ballet is a challenge!” says Christina.

The challenge also lies in the fact that the status of the soloist of ABT implies a phenomenal versatility of personality: today you have a feminist contemporary on your schedule, tomorrow - the good old Nutcracker. “Americans are crazy about this ballet. Everyone writes a list of things to do for the holidays, and at the top it usually says “The Nutcracker.” Seriously!".

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