KIROV ACADEMY OF BALLET - 1998 WINTER PERFORMANCE December 19, 1998 Washington, DC Review and Commentary by Jeannie Szoradi

Years from now, please remember that you first read here the name of future ballerina Devin Krahling. FALLEN ANGEL, commissioned modern dance solo (Oscar Hawkins; Alanis Morissette) - Devin Krahling: Add this strikingly beautiful and VERY flexible young blonde dancer to the ever-growing list of Kirov Academy stars of the future... and add the choreographer of this modern dance work - Oscar Hawkins - to the list of fine new serious choreographers to watch out for! Wearing a gorgeous white unitard costume with many chiffon flecks hanging from the long sleeves, Devin surely appeared to be an angel with wings. The choreography included many contortionist moves which "worked" within the context of the story of an angst-ridden angel in a hopeless situation. Super-human flexibility and powerful facial expression.

DANCER MAGAZINE, Nov. 2000 - Article by Julie Whyte

Fourteen years ago, Devin Krahling, a three year old tomboy with blonde ponytails enrolled in Saturday morning tap classes. Smaller than the other students, she challenged herself to be the best. Through the years her repertoire has expanded to include jazz, lyrical, ballet, modern and flamenco. I first saw Devin dance several years ago and have been following her career ever since. Her accomplishments include four gold medals at the World Championships of Performing Arts, television commercials, print modeling, a guest appearance on Soul Train, a soloist in Rasta & Friends, soloist and chorus dancer in Debbie Allen's "Brothers of the Knight," "Soul Possessed" and "Dreams," numerous titles and special awards, cover of the Kennedy's Center April 2000 stagebill and spokesmodel/dancer in Debbie Allen's upcoming TV production entitled "Cool Women."

In Devin's latest stage performance, "Dreams," she portrayed an extraterrestrial. I was struck with Devin's ability to elicit emotions from the audience as she worked through the plot, striking awe and endearment into the hearts of those watching. Although Devin 's amazing flexibility has been commented on frequently, I'd mark her greatest quality as her ability to touch the audience. Once, when I asked Devin what she most wants from dance, she responded, "I'd like to give to the audience and to the other dancers what dance has given to me."

Devin graduated, a straight "A" student from the Kirov Academy of Ballet in June. As she spoke to her peers and instructors, she listed Debbie Allen as the one person who has been most influential in her dance career. She quotes Ms. Allen as saying, "Master one technique and then expand your dance vocabulary. Open up and dance way out into space. The line shouldn't finish with the room or end at the audience, but go bigger." Debbie further advised, "Dancers should prepare themselves for other careers because the body works on a timetable."

This last bit of advice has encouraged Devin to start her college education through correspondence until her dance career allows for more conventional methods. Devin has yet to determine her career focus, but says she wants to position herself so as to be able to take advantage of any opportunities that come her way.