He is a star in his country, an icon, the pride of Moscow when the Bolshoi troupe dances on all the major stages of the world, from London to New York. But two weeks ago, Olga Smirnova, 30, spoke on the social network Telegram: “Dand all my soul, I am against this war, I never imagined being ashamed of Russia one day, but a limit has been crossed, there will be a before and an after” A short, incisive, clear message, which instantly changed her life. This is what she tells the British daily The Guardian, to which she gave her first interview since leaving Moscow. A few hours after posting her message, Olga Smirnova was scared, she felt her “security threatened”.
‘I couldn’t keep it inside’: ballet star Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi and fleeing Russia https://t.co/1SuBC5s9eK
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 5, 2022
With her husband, they therefore packed their bags, rushed to the airport and took a flight for Dubai in the afternoon, then another for Amsterdam, where the National Ballet of Holland immediately welcomed her in residence. “That very morning, I didn’t know I was going to leave, but I had to talk, I couldn’t keep it all inside me. You know, artists have always expressed themselves, I admire Russian literature, Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy are my favorite authors, and I learned from them the importance of speaking honestly and openly.” The references are not insignificant, Dostoyevsky was sent to prison in Siberia by the Tsar for his progressive commitments, and Tolstoy saw his manuscripts seized by the Tsarist censorship.
Olga Smirnova denies any activism, “JI never followed politics, simply, there comes a time when politics is impossible to ignore“She weighs her words, her friends are still in Russia, her parents too. Will she return one day? And when?”To return to Russia, I would have to take back what I said and there is no way I would. The future is uncertain, for me and for my country.“In the meantime, Wednesday April 6, in Amsterdam, she went back on stage for the first time since her departure, performing, with the troupe of the Dutch National Ballet, Raymondaa Russian ballet.