Ekaterina Shchelkanova

Ekaterina Nikolaevna Shchelkanova
Born (1970-05-02) May 2, 1970 (age 54)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
NationalityRussian
Other namesEkaterina Chtchelkanova
Occupation(s)Ballerina, singer, actress
Years active1991–present

Ekaterina Nikolaievna Shchelkanova (Russian: Екатерина Николаевна Щелканова, also spelled Chtchelkanova; born May 2, 1970) is a Russian ballerina, singer and actress from Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia). To American audiences, she is best known as Hunyak, the Hungarian death row prisoner, from the musical Chicago (2002). Chtchelkanova was also cast as Darya in the Canadian film The End of Silence,[1] and held parts in the films Odin's Shield Maiden, and Center Stage.

Shchelkanova is a graduate from the Vaganova Academy, where she studied under Ludmila Safronova, then joined the Kirov Ballet. During a tour to the US in 1992, she defected.[2] From 1995-2001, she was a member of the American Ballet Theatre.[3] She has appeared with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal in 2008,[4] and with the Space Coast Ballet in 2005.[2] In 2010, she founded the Open World Dance Foundation.[5][6][7][8]

  1. ^ "Female Eye Film Fest Review: End of Silence from Anita Doron". BlogTO. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b Burns, Diane Hubbard (21 April 2005). "Living a Fairy Tale". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida: Tribune Publishing Company. pp. E1, E3. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Ekaterina Shchelkanova-Open World Dance Foundation Part 1 (Biography)". Balancing Pointe. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Ekaterina Chtchelkanova, interview". Ballet.co.uk. November 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Catton, Pia (20 December 2011). "Ballerina Gives Orphans a Creative Outlet". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  6. ^ Leming, Mary Kate (31 October 2017). "On their toes: Budding ballerinas team up with pros to stage 'Cinderella'". The Coastal Star. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. ^ Lydon, Kate (November 2011). "One Orphan at a Time". Dance Teacher. 33 (11). Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  8. ^ Lydon, Kate (20 April 2012). "Orphanage Benefit Tonight". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2018.