Bozeman native Maria Sascha Khan is among the cadre of VIBE judges – she’s the oldest of a family of four professional dancers: Nadia Khan and Julian and Nicholas Mackay. The prima ballerina at the Ekaterinburg State Ballet in Russia is scheduled to teach a master class, offer a Q&A session with dancers and perform at the final VIBE USA gala Jan. 16. She’ll also offer a free master class and lecture at the Bozeman Public Library at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 10, “If These Tutus Could Talk.”
She also took time out of her hectic schedule for a Q&A with Lively Times.
LT: How often do you get back to Montana to perform?
MSK: Montana has a special place in my heart. I usually get back about once a year. My career has taken me on a journey from Montana through Europe all the way to Russia. Any time I return to my home state, especially to give back to the community, I love it. I am very excited to be returning to Montana, this time as a judge for the Vienna International Ballet Experience.
LT: Do your parents still live in Montana?
MSK: At a very young age both of my brothers made history as the youngest Americans to ever be accepted and attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. They were so young (9 and 11) that they never could have gone alone. Not wanting to turn down this life changing and most likely once in a lifetime opportunity, my parents made the difficult decision to have my mother go with them to Russia, which is definitely a whole other article in itself! We have always kept Montana as our family base, and we all consider it home.
LT: How often do you rendezvous with your siblings?
MSK: Fortunately our paths cross often! Even though we have lived and worked all over the world my siblings and I are very close. In a way maybe closer than if we were always together. It’s a miracle though when all four of us are in the same place at the same time.
LT: As professional dancers, have you ever shared a stage together? Do you aspire to?
MSK: No, we haven’t. And we can’t wait to do so! My brother, Julian MacKay, just made history as the first American to ever graduate from the full Russian program at the Bolshoi Academy, and just started his career at the Royal Ballet of London. My other brother, Nicholas MacKay, is just 15, and completing his professional ballet training at the Vagonova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. We’ve had a lot of interest in doing so (performing together) once he graduates.
Three of us shared the stage together in Montana during one of the ballet galas I organized for Youth Arts in Action, “Les Danses de l’Amour.” My sister, Nadia Khan, and I shared the stage as professionals when we were working together in Munich at the Bavarian State Ballet, which was wonderful.
LT: It’s fascinating, of course, that four rural Montanans, all from the same family, grew up to be professional dancers. And mysterious, since neither of your parents danced. Did you inspire each other as children?
MSK: We still do! All four of us have very different personalities and presence on stage. Each one has something the other could gain from. Also, having siblings to turn to who understand and appreciate the hardships and what’s gone in to the victories along the way is very special. I’m really grateful to have that.
LT: Ballet is notoriously difficult, as a passion and career. What qualities are most important to succeed?
MSK: It is, it’s very difficult and very special. There are many aspects that go into it such as talent, physicality, musicality, flexibility, strength, dedication of heart, mind, body and soul. But passion – passion is essential. Passion for life. Passion for what you do. Passion, tempered with dedication, hard work and the commitment it takes on an every day basis to reach your goals. This is what makes you successful.
LT: Are you still involved with Youth Arts in Action’s annual gala, and will you be participating this year?
MSK: Yes, Youth Arts in Action was started by my amazing mother Teresa Khan MacKay as a way to give back and help talented artists through all that we’ve learned. Along with dancing in it, I’m actually the organizer and the head of the gala! Everything from the programming to the lighting. I could never do any of it though without the enormous support of my family and members of the community! It’s been an amazing experience every time and I’m looking forward to doing it again. I have some incredible international stars who are asking me if they can come next time. It’s always just difficult to work out scheduling.
LT: What’s your most thrilling performance on the world stage? What was your most intimidating?
MSK: One of my most thrilling and intimidating performances was my debut as a professional ballet dancer. I had just signed my contract with the Berlin State Ballet (Staatsballett Berlin) and was the baby of the company. It was La Bayadere, and somehow the company decided to put me front and center for the “Kingdom of the Shades.” This is notoriously one of the most difficult ballets for the corps de ballet. It begins with an endless series of penchee arabesques, the first 10 of which are down a steep ramp, usually with the stage lights right in your face. To this day it is still one of my favorite ballets.
LT: What’s it like to dance in Russia – a country with such a rich ballet tradition?
MSK: They really do have an amazing ballet tradition. It is as much a part of the fabric of their country as freedom is of ours. Ballet dancers have a celebrity-like status and the famous ones are easily recognized on the street. They have a great love and passion for ballet and it’s an honor to be a part of it. I’m often overwhelmed by the legacy being passed down to me, heart to heart, from the phenomenal coaches I have worked with. It’s like being entrusted with precious jewels and treasures that you know you could never replace.
LT: This marks the first time the Viennese International Ballet Experience has been held in the U.S., let alone Montana: what makes Montana attractive to the international ballet community?
MSK: Montana is a place of beauty, openness, freedom, a place where you feel your soul can fly. I know from my own experience that every time my family and I have brought back ballet professionals to Montana, whether to perform, teach, or visit, it’s been love at first sight and they’ve begged to come back.