Trainer Of Champions
LONNY GOLDSMITH
Staff Writer
Iff arina Sheffer has been a
ballerina since she was 4
years old in Moscow.
She danced at a col-
lege-level ballet school from the age of
15 until she was 23.
Now, at age 29, Sheffer serves as
the ballet teacher to one of America's
Olympic figure skaters, Tara Lipinski,
as well as others who performed at the
U.S. Nationals last month.
Growing up in the Soviet Union,
Sheffer was a jack-of-all-trades. In.
addition to her dancing, she partici-
pated in rhythmic gymnastics and
music, majoring in classical guitar.
"Dancing for me was more than a
dream or hobby or profession. It was a
lifestyle," she said.
Sheffer served as a host on Moscow
State Television, an actress in a
Russian movie (titled Town Zero) and
modeled for seven years.
Sheffer's parents asked to leave the
Soviet Union in 1967, after they were
married. It wasn't until 1992 that they
were allowed to emigrate.
Sheffer had been working as a
choreographer for a show of 65
dancers, and missed the performance
to leave for Southfield.
"I've never been back since then,
and really have no desire to do so
either," she said. "I have no family left
there, and my friends I call, fax letters
or e-mail. Russia is now the worst of
communism, and the worst of capital-
ism."
Being Jewish in the old Soviet
Union was not easy.
"Whenever the dance company"
traveled to a capitalist country, I was
not allowed to go because I'm Jewish,"
she said. "I could only go to Third
World countries, or communist coun-
tries."
Although she now works with fig-
ure skaters, learning how to do it was
denied her in Russia.
"I wanted to start when I was 8
years old, but I was told it was too
late," she said. "You have to fit a cer-
tain profile: age, weight and height. I
wasn t allowed to skate for myself,
only for my country."
Sheffer has lived in Southfield for
five years since her move with her par-
'
•,;:*:40•MIM
Marina Sheffer works with Tara Lipinski on her long program for the Olympics.
ents from Russia. She taught ballet at
the Center for Creative Studies in
Detroit and at the Jewish Community
Center, until she came across a news-
paper ad almost two years ago.
"I saw that Igor Shpilband, who
works with ice dancers, was looking
for a teacher trained in Russian ballet
to work with his skaters," she said..
"I've been doing it since."
Sheffer began working with ice
dancers, and now has over 20 skaters
who are her students.
Depending on their level, Sheffer
works with the students both on the
ice and off at Bloomfield Hills'
Detroit Skating Club.
"I speak with them about character,
and their image when they skate," she
said. "Then.I start to speak about
artistic impression and look at their
eye movements, facial expressions and
body alignment. I see if they can bring
the standard ballet exercises onto the
ice. Movements are movements on the
floor or on the ice."
Tara Lipinski, the 1997 World
Champion and 1998 National runner-
up, has benefited from Sheffer's train-
ing.
"My second marks (presentation)
have been a lot better since working
with Marina," Lipinski said recently at
DSC. "It's great to work with her
because of her personality, the way she
teaches and her commitment to her
students. Marina makes sure the stu-
dents get her best."
Sheffer, who has worked with
Lipinski since August of 1996, enjoys
the challenge of working with one of
America's premier skaters.
"Tara's athleticism and performing
ability are now equal," Sheffer said. "I
like the type of student that's very
dedicated and very organized. That's
what Tara's like."
Unfortunately, Sheffer will not be
able to travel to Nagano, Japan, for
the Olympics, which begin tonight,
because only one coach will be able
to get credentials. Sheffer doesn't
mind being relegated to watching on
TV.
"I get really nervous watching on
television, but it's much worse when
I'm there," Sheffer said. "I'm probably
worse than the skaters are. I would
look relaxed on the outside, but inside
I'm a wreck.
"I was never like that when I
danced, but I put my soul into teach-
ing and wish them to do their best."
Lipinski isn't the only skater that
has succeeded under Sheffer's tutelage.
Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod
Swallow, the husband-and-wife ice_
dancing pair from Pontiac, worked
with Sheffer until last year. They are
attending their third Olympic Games.
Another Olympic-bound dance team
is Bloomfield Hills' Jessica Joseph and
Charles Butler of Kalamazoo. In the
junior dance division, Sheffer students
Jamie Silverstein of Bloomfield Hills
and Southfield's Justin Pekarek fin-
ished second at the U.S. Nationals in
Philadelphia last month. ❑
2/6
1998
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