Stella Mackenzie, Artistic Director, Beneroya Hall, Seattle
Stella Mackenzie was born in New York, and showed an aptitude for dance at an early age. Twirling about the living room in her nightgown, her parents quickly decided dance lessons were in order. Her teachers were impressed with her skill and dedication, and at the age of 16, was the youngest dance-apprentice accepted at Julliard. At 28, she met Yuri Kharkhov, another established star, and they fell blissfully in love. They put off having a family for professional reasons, but a few years later, were blessed with Alexi Mackenzie Kharkhov. Since her pregnancy interfered with her dancing, she began to pursue choreography. Not too surprisingly, she excelled.
With her change in career, a change in location was also in order.
Stella accepted a job offer in Seattle as an Associate Choreographer at
Seeing his father die from his obsession, Alexi spurned any hobby or career that had the least tie to the arts. He graduated from college with a degree in architecture, and a love-child from a stolid urban studies undergraduate, who left him shortly after they were married. Stella believes Myrna's leaving him is the second best thing she (Myrna) ever did for him. The best thing was leaving him with Lauren, who, much to her father's dismay, also began evidencing a love of dance at a young age.
Stella eventually moved on to become instrumental in the building of Seattle's new center for the performing arts, Beneroya Hall, where she is now the Artistic Director, and an advisor for the Board of Directors. When she's not working, she takes care of her garden, her African Grey parrot, and her dancing granddaughter.
Gifts: Elemental, Durant, Immutable
Affiliation: Heaven