From January 15 to 20, the National Ballet of Ukraine will first present its show at the Grand Théâtre de Québec, then at the St-Denis theater in Montreal before flying to Toronto, Regina, Winnipeg and Vancouver. It will highlight several extracts from renowned ballets, such as Don Quixote, Giselle Or The Corsair, but will also highlight Ukrainian culture. An artistic evening filled with “ Nadiya » (which means “hope”) also aimed at raising funds for the Ukrainian people.
“This show represents all the dance styles of the Ukrainian National Ballet, but also our culture, so I think it can really interest Canadian audiences,” explains Mykyta Sukhorukov, one of the company’s principal dancers.
Born in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Mr. Sukhorukov has worked for the national ballet for eleven years now. He considers himself lucky to be able to continue dancing, despite the war, which began almost two years ago. “The artists of the company cannot complain, because we have the opportunity to work and dance, in kyiv in particular,” explains the performer, a graduate of the kyiv Choreographic College. Of course we have a lot of problems, but when we look outside, when we see people fighting for their lives, our problems are nothing. We’re doing fewer shows than before, but that’s not important because we can continue to work and tour that represent our country and remind people that the war continues. » Indeed, composed of 150 dancers, the National Ballet of Ukraine presented, before the war, 16 productions per month at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera in kyiv. Since then, the number of performances has been considerably reduced.
Art as support
The show Nadiya Ukraine premiered in August 2022, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. Mykyta Sukhorukov really liked the choreographic choices. “It represents both the essence of the National Ballet, but also pure classical ballet, the tradition. Finally, we also find our own ballet, in the sense that it is classical ballet, but with the history of Ukraine, with composers from our country, Ukrainian choreographers, etc. More folkloric dance is also present, as is more contemporary work,” adds Mr. Sukhorukov.
For prima ballerina Natalia Matsak, this tour is not only an opportunity to show Ukrainian culture to the world. “This ballet should remind us that we are a nation united by more than a common enemy. We share language, culture, art, beauty and history. Let us remember that we must not lose our humanity in this fight for survival,” she said at a press conference last September.
In addition to the artistic side, the performer considers that this evening is very important since it is accompanied by a crowdfunding campaign. And this is the “most important” aspect for Mr. Sukhorukov. “We hope that the performances will be able to bring money to people who are in need,” he said. An initiative which also greatly affected Natalia Matsak. “By joining us, you’re not just buying a ticket to see a world-class performance by some of Ukraine’s most accomplished dancers. By purchasing a ticket, you are supporting the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters affected by this senseless brutality. Joining us on this tour is supporting life, the arts and all the people affected by this war,” she said a few months ago.
According to the United Nations, at least 6 million Ukrainians have fled abroad and 8 million have been displaced within the country due to the violence. Millions of Ukrainians need humanitarian aid, water, food, shelter and medicine. This is why the global peace collective HUMANITE, founded by refugees and war survivors, and the Olena Zelenska Foundation joined the National Ballet tour. In addition to working directly with Ukrainian families, they help refugees and launch projects to rebuild the country once peace returns. “Wars are never fought just for territory. Wars are fought over language, over history and over culture. What we are witnessing today in Ukraine is an attempt to erase a nation through the brutalization of its people and the destruction of its rich cultural history. This ballet company not only presents its culture to Canadians, it defiantly celebrates and preserves it. These artists have a role to play in this conflict: they use art and beauty to help people who face unimaginable suffering,” concludes David Meffe, development manager for HUMANITE.