Shura Baryshnikov facts for kids

Aleksandra "Shura" Lange Baryshnikova is a talented American dancer, choreographer, teacher, and actress. She was born on March 5, 1981.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up with Famous Parents

Shura grew up with famous parents. Her father is the well-known ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her mother is the actress Jessica Lange. Shura has a mix of backgrounds, including Finnish, Russian, and German heritage. She also has five half-siblings, including the actress Anna Baryshnikov.

Childhood and School Days

When she was a child, Shura learned classical ballet. She often traveled with her mother to different movie sets. In high school, she was very active. She competed in diving and track. She also rode horses and played field hockey.

College Years

After high school, Shura went to Marlboro College in Vermont. There, she studied American history and culture. She also focused on theatre and modern dance. While at college, she was part of a student singing group called Five-O'Clock Bells.

Shura's Career in Dance and Theatre

Teaching and Choreography

Shura Baryshnikov is a respected teacher and choreographer. She leads the movement program at the Brown University / Trinity Repertory Company MFA Program. She also teaches movement and dance at Brown University. Shura helps create dances and movements for plays. She has worked with groups like Trinity Repertory Company and The Wilbury Theatre Group.

Performing as a Dancer

As a dancer, Shura has performed in many different shows. She has worked with several dance companies. These include Aerplaye Dance and Festival Ballet Providence. She also danced with Lostwax Multimedia Dance.

Teaching Dance to Students

Shura teaches dance at various schools and colleges. She is on the faculty at Festival Ballet Providence School. She has also taught at places like Salve Regina University and MIT. Currently, she is a dance teacher at the Moses Brown School. She also learned special acting techniques from the SITI Company.

Acting on Stage

Besides dancing, Shura is also an actress. She starred in a play called Salome in Boston. She was also in the musical Oklahoma! at Trinity Rep. In 2018, she played the character Orlando in the play As You Like It at the Gamm Theatre.

Presenting Her Work

Shura's dance and performance pieces have been shown in different places. These include the RISD Museum and the Providence Fringe Festival. Her work has also been featured at the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society.