We are honored to have Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky as our guest artists for the last week of performances of Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker ballet at The Irvine Barclay Theatre. The husband-and-wife former principal dancers of the American Ballet Theatre are no strangers to the FBT stage. Past guest appearances in FBT shows include: Gala of the Stars and 11 wonderful years of The Nutcracker.

Irina and Maxim performing in last year's Festival Ballet Theatre Nutcracker. Photo by Dave Friedman

Irina and Maxim performing in last year’s Festival Ballet Theatre Nutcracker. Photo by Dave Friedman

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Irina started her ballet training at the Kiev Ballet School at the age of 10.
She was a principal dancer of the National Opera Ballet of Kiev before joining the American
Ballet Theatre (New York) in 1996. She had a long and successful career with American Ballet
Theatre until she retired from ABT in 2013. Since then, Irina has explored more acting roles
including musical theatre (she played Vera Baronova in the New York City Center Encores!
production of Rodgers & Hart’s “On Your Toes”) and more recently on television!
Here’s a peek at Irina on the Starz’ limited run series “Flesh and Bone,” where she plays prima
ballerina Kiira.

She has also appeared on the ABC TV drama “Forever,” and “The Americans.”

Irina’s husband Maxim Beloserkovsky also started his ballet training at a young age with the Kiev Ballet
Institute. He was a principal dancer with the National Opera Ballet of the Ukraine between 1991
to 1994, after which he joined the American Ballet Theatre (New York).

He and Irina have a successful line of ballet wear “Irina and Max” by Bloch. Their daughter,
Emma, now 11, who is also a ballerina.

Photo below shows Emma in a Nutcracker performance this year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN8YGioB0jo/?taken-by=irinamaxemma

Below is a photo of our happy ballet family reposted from their Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNyFuFqBBlZ/?taken-by=irinamaxemma

Watch Irina in Maxim in Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker in the following performances:
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Wednesday, December 21, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 22, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Friday, December 23, 2016 @ 1:00 PM
Friday, December 23, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 24, 2016 @ 11:00 AM

Get your tickets here.