A principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Irina Dvorovenko was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and began her ballet training at the Kiev Ballet School at the age of ten. She joined the National Opera Ballet of Kiev in 1990 as a soloist, rising to the rank of principle dancer in 1992. Just some of her leading roles of the great classics include: Gamzatti in La Bayadere; Kitri the Queen of the Driads and Mercedes in Don Quixote; Giselle and Myrta in Giselle; Princess Aurora and Princess Florine in He Sleeping Beauty and Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.
Irina usually dances in tandem with her husband, our first Celebrity Father, Maxim Beloserkovsky. She is also an actress having appeared on Broadway and Spokes-model for several leading brands as well as creator of her own line of dance wear and footwear.
Most importantly she is a Mother….she is warm and inviting with lots of hugs and air kisses, I adore her as she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out. Irina Dvorovenko is a true star, a role model that young ballerinas can embrace and look up to.
We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Irina Dvorovenko as our fifth Celebrity Mother!
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1. How would you describe yourself?
I am a strong, independent and loving person. At times I love others more than I love myself. I am so happy when something wonderful happens to people I know, I care deeply for mankind and find it my responsibility to help others.
I am also grounded and know the importance of my family who I adore.
2. Please tell us about your daughter?
Emma is a bright, emotional and artistic young lady. She is an unbelievable negotiator and I could easily see her becoming an attorney, however recently she has expressed interest in becoming a ballerina. We will see, of course I will support her in her decision. She recently performed on stage in a musical and I was so impressed with her enthusiasm and delivery. I was very proud.
3. When you were four months pregnant you and your husband, Maxim Beloserkovsky, performed the pas de deux from the second act of Swan Lake. I love that you were quoted as saying that while dancing this dance, you were thinking that the baby would enjoy it as well. Did you dance/perform throughout your entire pregnancy?
No, after four months I stopped. My first priority was my baby and making sure she was safe. I also wanted my attention on my pregnancy so I could enjoy every part of it fully.
4. What Old Fashioned advice does your Mother give you with respect to raising your daughter?
My Mother prefers Emma to read, play chess with my Father…do things like this, and not be on the IPad so much. Today is very different, children are so knowledgeable about computers and social media. They are on their phone texting and talking to one another…in order to keep up we have to know how to do all this. My Mother of course does, but enjoys the simpler times as well.
5. Do you dance as a Family?
Yes, we have been known to on occasion have “living room” performances. My husband will dance with Emma and this is so beautiful to watch…then the costumes will be brought out. It is great fun and I am happy that I can share my love of dancing with my daughter.
6. You are such a role model for so many future ballerinas. Now that you are a Mother, what age would you recommend beginning ballet?
This should be around nine or ten. There are pre-ballet classes for the little ones, however dancing takes a lot of focus and strength and to start to young could ruin the desire to continue on.
7. What are your favorite things to do as a family?
We enjoy cooking and baking, there is always something special about gathering around a meal and talking…especially one that you have made! Drawing is something we enjoy as well. I think just being together and being in the moment, realizing how fortunate we are to have one another.