Christine Shevchenko

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

Early life 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.

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. She has since danced other principal roles such as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, Myrtha in Giselle and Mademoiselle Marianne Chartreuse in Whipped Cream. Shevchenko was coached by Irina Kolpakova at ABT, and had traveled to St. Petersburg to work with Margarita Kullik of Mariinsky Ballet.

Awards 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 Shevchenko's repertoire with the American Ballet Theatre includes:

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