Biography
Lyena Strelkoff is an inspired creative artist and innovative educator. Paralyzed in 2002 by a terrible fall, her work, life and character reflect a rare spirit, full of grace and courage, gratitude and compassion.
Although professionally trained in acting and dance, Lyena’s creative life has always been eclectic. Her versatile talents include writing, storytelling, and visual art, in addition to acting and movement. Undeterred by traditional boundaries separating various art forms, she frequently combines several disciplines, pushing the limits of common expectation.
As a performance artist, Lyena has combined her eloquent movement style with poetry (“And I shall call me… Bliss”) and body art, designed and painted by LA artist Jennifer Murphy (“She”). She has originated several pivotal roles for award-winning Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble, which she co-founded in 2000, and is a former member of Présences en Regard, a dynamic, physical theater company in Paris, France. Visual works include “Yelena Nikolayovna,” an assemblage honoring her maternal grandmother and featuring a narrative soundtrack, written and recorded by Lyena, as part of a group show at the Institute for Cultural Inquiry in Los Angeles. And her prose poetry has been published by Mother Tongue Ink.
An empowering educator, Lyena has created several workshops for children and adults. Act One, introducing young children to the finer skills of make-believe, has brought joy and self-esteem to hundreds of children in Los Angeles area schools.
Lyena considers creative expression a necessity in her life. In the face of her injury, artistry offers a means to understand and integrate her experience. It also provides a way to connect with the hearts and minds of other people. Intrinsic to Lyena’s personal philosophy is the need to transcend her own circumstance, and to transform her insight, experience and growth into positive opportunities for others.
In May 2003, seven months after being paralyzed, Lyena riveted her audience with “The Road to Recovery,” an inspirational and enlightening performance of her stories and writings revealing her experience with spinal cord injury. Whether sitting or standing, Lyena is committed to fulfilling her creative vision and offering the best of her talents in service to the people around her.
Click here for a quick look at Lyena's current show, CATERPILLAR SOUP.
Click here to watch the award-winning documentary about Lyena.