Ukrainian Ballet Dancers Take Stand Against Russian Aggression
Date
3/13/2023 8:23:28 AM
(MENAFN) Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, dancers from the country's most acclaimed ballet company are using their artistry to make a statement. Ukrainian dancers, including prima ballerina Olga Kifyak-Fon-Kraimer, are using their skills to showcase Ukraine's culture and challenge the Russian cultural dominance in the ballet world. While ballet has long been associated with Russia, many of the best dancers are actually from or trained in Ukraine.
"We dance in spite of Russia," said Kifyak-Fon-Kraimer, who lost her brother to the conflict. "It's very hard. But we are Ukrainians. We are unbreakable." The dancers have continued to perform, even going to the front lines when theaters were closed during the first months of the war. Oleksander Shapoval, a principal dancer at the Ukraine National Ballet, was a once-in-a-generation dancer who performed in 30 different roles over 28 seasons. In September 2022, he was killed in a Russian mortar attack.
Shapoval was remembered as a "courageous romantic," a mentor, and a friend. His death was a heavy blow to the entire company, but they have continued to dance in his memory. Mykyta Sukhorukov, who has taken over Shapoval's role as the company's principal dancer, is now dancing the lead role in "Don Quixote," a romantic comedy that brings laughter to audiences in Kyiv.
The resilience of the Ukrainian people is evident in the continuation of ballet performances in the country's capital city. American volunteer Paige Vienne attended a performance and said it emphasized the strength and spirit of the Ukrainian people. "A lot of people back home...asked me if Kyiv was destroyed, and I said 'Absolutely not,'" Vienne said. "To continue on is really the Ukrainian spirit. It's really incredible to see that people continue to just not exist, but live."
The Ukrainian ballet dancers are using their art as a form of protest against Russian aggression, and their determination to continue dancing in the face of adversity is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
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