Natalia Makarova

Legendary ballet dancer (and Tony-winner) Natalia Makarova, considered the best ballerina of the 20th century, talks about her life and career. She defected from the Soviet Union in 1970 and was the first artistic exile to be invited back to perform in the Soviet Union. Makarova will be honored at special tribute evening on April 28 by Youth America Grand Prix, the world's larges student ballet scholarship competition.

This week the Leonard Lopate Show interviews Natalia Makarova. Listen to a WQXR interview Bob Sherman did with Makarova in 1977, when she was prima ballerina at American Ballet Theatre.