61 replies to this topic

[Alexandra]

Mary Cargill interviewed Shelkanova for Ballet Alert! a year or two ago -- she had quite a story.  (I was interested in her dancing, too, and, like Manhattnik, admired her in "Lilac Garden.")  Mary, correct me if I'm misremembering, but she left the Kirov and lived in New York -- waiting tables.  Had no hope of a dance career.  But she would take class, and Baryshnikov saw her in class and encouraged her to dance again.  I've always felt ABT would be a more interesting company if it used dancers like Shelkanova in solo roles -- and quite possibly ballerina roles -- than constantly looking for Whiz Kids.  I was sorry she left.

[dirac]

If memory serves, the film credits spelled the name as Ekaterina Chtchelkanova.