Position: Principal
Years: 2017
Awards: Princess Grace Award 2003, USA International Ballet Competition bronze medal, Moscow International Ballet Competition gold medal and Title of Laureate 2005, George Zoritch of Ballet Russe Award for Talent Recognition, Margaret Moore Dance Award 2010, Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship 2015
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Christine Shevchenko was born in Odessa, Ukraine where she was chosen to train in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet at an Olympic School. At the age of eight, she moved to the United States and trained for nine years at Pennsylvania Ballet’s Rock School, under the direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff. She has also studied with Olga Tozyiakova, Lev Assaulyak and Alexander Boitsov. Shevchenko danced the children’s lead in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker for three years, and was featured in the NBC special Degas and the Dance. In 2002 she was invited to perform with International Ballet Theatre Company’s “Stars of Kirov, Bolshoi and Ukrainian Ballet” in Annapolis, Maryland. In 2003, Shevchenko became the youngest recipient of the Princess Grace Award. Other awards include the 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, the 2010 Margaret Moore Dance Award and the 2015 Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship. She danced leading and soloist roles from Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Harlequinade, The Flames of Paris, Grand Pas Classique, Le Corsaire, Paquita, La Bayadère and Balanchine’s Symphony in C. She also performed various contemporary pieces by many choreographers that included Caprice #1 specially choreographed by Benjamin Millepied for a competition.
Shevchenko joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company in August 2006 where she performed classical and contemporary pieces including Raymonda in Raymonda Divertissements, the pas de deux from August Bournonville’s Flower Festival at Genzano, Lilac Garden and Continuo by Anthony Tudor, and Eyes that Gently Touch by Kirk Peterson, along with other pieces. She joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in December 2007 and the corps de ballet in June 2008. She became a Soloist in August 2014 and a Principal Dancer in September 2017.
