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Christine Shevchenko

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Yuriivna and the family name is Shevchenko.
Christine Shevchenko
Христина Шевченко
Shevchenko in September 2014
Born1988 (age 35–36)
Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2006-present
Career
Current groupAmerican Ballet Theatre
WebsiteChristineShevchenko.com

Christine Shevchenko[a] (born 1988) is a Ukrainian-American ballet dancer. She currently performs as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.[1]

Early life

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Born in the Odesa, Ukraine, her father was a gymnast, and her mother was a dancer and actor. At age four, Shevchenko started training in rhythmic gymnastics at an Olympic Reserve School in Odesa, under the direction of Nina Vitrychenko.

When she was eight, her family immigrated to Pennsylvania and enrolled her in The Rock School for Dance Education, under the direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff.[1] Shevchenko danced the children's lead (Marie) in Pennsylvania Ballet's The Nutcracker for three years, and was featured in the NBC special, Degas and the Dance.

In 2003, Shevchenko became the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award, and she later won several awards at international competitions, including Youth America Grand Prix, USA International Ballet Competition, and Moscow International Ballet Competition.

Shevchenko studied with Lev Assaulyak and Olga Tozyiakova. She also worked with choreographers Fernando Bujones, Benjamin Millepied, Elena Tchernichova, and Vladimir Shoumeikin.

Career

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Shevchenko in August 2014

In 2006, Shevchenko joined the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, where she danced in several classical and contemporary pieces. The following year, she joined the main company as an apprentice and became a full time member of the corps de ballet in 2008. In 2013, when she was still in the corps, Shevchenko replaced an injured Gillian Murphy in Piano Concerto #1. Though she only knew half of the choreography and learned the rest an hour before the show, her performance was praised by critics.[2][3]

She became a soloist in 2014. In the 2017 Metropolitan Opera House season, Shevchenko debuted as Kitri in Don Quixote, which was her first leading role. The following week, she filled in for an injured dancer as Medora in Le Corsaire, after learning the role during the weekend. She ended the season with her debut in Balanchine's Mozartiana, and was promoted to Principal Dancer later that year.[4] She has since danced other principal roles such as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, Myrtha in Giselle and Mademoiselle Marianne Chartreuse in Whipped Cream.[5][6] Shevchenko was coached by Irina Kolpakova at ABT, and had traveled to St. Petersburg to work with Margarita Kullik of Mariinsky Ballet.[7]

Awards

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  • Princess Grace Award, 2003
  • Bronze Medal in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, 2005
  • Gold Medal and Title of Laureate at the Moscow International Ballet Competition
  • The George Zoritch of Ballet Russe Award for Talent Recognition
  • Margaret Moore Dance Award, 2010

Repertoire

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Shevchenko's repertoire with the American Ballet Theatre includes:[1]

Created roles

  • Irene in Ghost Catcher
  • Songs of Bukovina
  • AfterEffect
  • Dream within a Dream (deferred)
  • Everything Doesn’t Happen at Once
  • Praedicere
  • Private Light

Notes

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  1. ^ Ukrainian: Христина Юріївна Шевченко, romanized: Khrystyna Yuriivna Shevchenko

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Christine Shevchenko". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Ratmansky and Shostakovich: Together Again". New Yorker. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ "From a 'Super Bunhead' to a Lead Dancer". New York Times. 19 May 2017.
  4. ^ Harss, Marina (2017-09-18). "Inside Christine Shevchenko's Journey to Becoming Kitri—And an ABT Principal". Dance Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  5. ^ Harss, Marina (28 November 2018). "Christine Shevchenko and Devon Teuscher: ABT's Dazzling New Generation of Star Power". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  6. ^ "How American Ballet Theatre Principal Christine Shevchenko Preps for Her NYC Debut of "Swan Lake"". 15 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Inside Christine Shevchenko's Travels to St. Petersburg for One-on-One Giselle Coaching". Pointe Magazine. 13 May 2020.
  8. ^ Kourlas, Gia (23 June 2023). "Review: In 'Like Water for Chocolate,' Plot Overtakes Ballet". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
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