Oksana Skorik

Oksana Skorik (Russian: Оксана Скорик) (born April 20, 1989) is a Ukrainian professional ballet dancer and Principal Dancer of the Mariinsky Ballet. She graduated from Perm School of Dance in 2007 and joined the Mariinsky Ballet the same year. She was the subject of David Kinsella's documentary A Beautiful Tragedy and was featured on RT Documentary's Ballet, Sweat and Tears.

Early life

Skorik was born in Kharkov, Ukraine on April 20, 1989. It was decided by her mother that she was going to be a ballet dancer ever since she was born, and the day after her 5th birthday, her mother took her to Perm School of Dance where she would attend ballet classes and board every year until her graduation at the age of 18. During her time in Perm School of Dance, Skorik suffered from anorexia due to the harsh comments of teachers and staff of the school, who would often compare students with each other.^[1] In 2008, A Beautiful Tragedy, a documentary directed by David Kinsella focused on 15-year-old Oksana's journey through ballet school and her battle with anorexia. The documentary followed her during one year (2004-2005) and expressed her innermost feelings about ballet and her relationship with food.^[1]

Mariinsky Ballet

Skorik was offered a contract with the Mariinsky Ballet in 2007 as a coryphée until she was promoted to first soloist in 2012. She has toured with the Mariinsky Ballet to the United States,^[2] Japan, and Europe. In Sept 2015, Skorik was promoted to principal ballerina of Mariinsky.

Repertoire

• La Sylphide (Sylph); choreography by August Bournonville, revised version by Elsa-Marianne von Rosen.^[3]
• Giselle (Giselle, Monna, Zulma); choreography by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa.^[3]
• La Bayadère (Nikia, Trio of Shades); choreography by Marius Petipa, revised version by Vladimir Ponomarev and Vakhtang Chabukiani.^[3]
• The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy, Princess Florine); choreography by Marius Petipa, revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev.^[3]
• Swan Lake (Odette-Odile, Swans, Two Swans); choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev.^[3]
• Raymonda (Raymonda); choreography by Marius Petipa, revised version by Konstantin Sergeyev.^[3]
• The Nutcracker (Masha); choreography Vasily Vainonen.^[3]
• Le Corsaire (Medora); production by Pyotr Gusev after the composition and choreography by Marius Petipa.^[3]
• Don Quixote (Kitri, Queen of the Dryads); choreography by Alexander Gorsky.^[3]
• Grand Pas Classique; choreography by Viktor Gsovsky.^[3]
• Chopiniana (Nocturne, Mazurka, Seventh Waltz, First Waltz); choreography by Michel Fokine.^[3]
• George Balanchine's
• Serenade
• Symphony in C (II. Adagio, III. Allegro vivace)
• Jewels (Diamonds, Rubies)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Act II – Soloist in the Divertissement) and Piano
• Concerto No 2 (Ballet Imperial).^[3]
• The Legend of Love (Mekhmeneh-Bahnu); choreography by Yuri Grigorovich.^[3]
• Carmen (Carmen); choreography by Alberto Alonso.^[3]
• Ondine (Four Naiads); choreography by Pierre Lacotte.^[3]

Accolades

• Recipient of the Spirit of Dance prize in the category “Rising Star” (2012).^[4]
• Prize-winner at the XII International Ballet Dancers’ and Choreographers’ Competition in Moscow (2nd prize, 2013).

References