01/05/2025
Remembering Maggie Kudirka
Maggie Kudirka, a ballet dancer who became an advocate for cancer awareness after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2014 at the age of 23, died on December 27, 2024.
A member of the Joffrey Concert Group in New York at the time of her diagnosis, Kudirka continued to dance, teach, and choreograph through her treatment. She also became an advocate, becoming known as the Bald Ballerina and dedicating her time to increasing awareness about early detection, raising funds for cancer research and treatment, and supporting other young adults with cancer. Her courage, compassion, and dedication have had an enduring impact on the dance community. “Anyone can get breast cancer,” she told “Dance Magazine” in 2017, in an interview with Lisa Traiger. “I want young girls to know they’re in charge of their bodies, and if they feel something is not right, they should be able to ask for help and get what they need.”
📸 Maggie Kurdika. Photo by , courtesy Kudirka and .
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