Irena, a prima ballerina in the Bolshoi Moscow State ballet had just come off stage and was returning to her dressing room. While moving backstage, she glanced up and in the corridor was the journalist from the New York Times. He had been pursuing Irena for some time trying to obtain a one on one interview. He had evaded the intervention of the authorities so far and had not given up hope. Irena never seemed to have much in the way of protection and always seemed to travel alone to and from the ballet. She had been careful up to now and had given the journalist the slip. Read more…