The National Ballet of Ukraine opened the U.S. leg of their tour in Washington D.C. on Oct. 8, bringing their talents to Boston on Oct. 10 in the historical Shubert Theater. The tour marks the company’s first U.S. appearance in over 30 years, making it a monumental moment for the ballet world. It has amassed a reputation as one of the top ballet companies in the dance world and is a pioneer in the development of the Vaganova ballet method. The production lived up to the company’s history: full of delicate pointe work, awe-inspiring partner lifts and characteristic elegance and grace. However, the chance to perform itself is so much more than an artistic gift.
Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 broke international guidelines of sovereignty and has amassed more than 10,000 civilian deaths; it has also targeted important cultural sites directly tied to Ukrainian identity and values. These sites include the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theatre, as well as many historic buildings in Odesa, which are on the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The company believes this destruction is emblematic of Putin’s desire for Ukrainian cultural erasure. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova echoed this in her statement in the program distributed at the show.
The show is aptly titled, “Nadiya Ukraine” meaning Hope for Ukraine. The company’s aim in the show is to display the strength of the Ukrainian spirit, particularly in the Ukrainian contributions to the ballet world. Hope was absolutely the theme of the night. When entering the theater, I was immediately greeted by crowds of people sporting Vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian blouse. Others were wearing pins or scarves of the Ukrainian flag. The theater itself was glittering with a domed ceiling and balcony rows suggestive of the very theaters threatened in cities like Odesa and Kyiv.
The production started with an introduction by Nobuhiro Terada, the artistic director of the company, where he reiterated that this show represents what Ukraine is fighting for — for art, for culture and the ability to write their own history. This speech was followed by a video showcasing the natural beauty of Ukraine and its people, accompanied by a traditional song for Ukrainian prayer. It was difficult to not be moved to tears in the moment, as images of the heart of the Ukrainian people and the pain present in the war was inescapable.
The opening act was a simple pas de deux between principal dancers Olga Golytsia and Mykyta Sukhorukov, which stripped the glitz of ballet production down to the core technique. The pas de deux included many technically difficult lifts, especially a press lift that seemed as if the ballerina was weightless and floating through the sky. The dancers were dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothing, and the simplicity of both the set and dress cemented the persistent theme of the piece: the focus on Ukrainian heritage.
The show was composed of excerpts from many famous ballets including Giselle, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Don Quixote and more. The company also had a guest appearance from the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, a traditional Ukrainian folk dance group. The shumka dancers had a number of pieces, but their first group dance following the pas de deux was simply spectacular. The dancers formed multiple geometric patterns that required intense coordination and excruciating musicality. The relationship between performer and audience was remarkable the entire night. You truly felt the audience was supporting the dancer through each step, cementing the community behind the company.
The following pas de deux was from La Bayadere which was then followed shortly thereafter by a series of duets, the highlight being the Harlequinade pas de deux between principal dancers Tetiana Lozova and Yaroslav Tkachuk, which elicited an audience reaction so joyful one could believe they were at a comedy show.
The show incorporated 3D elements by using a screen as a backdrop that showcased 3D settings. The last dance of the first act, was titled “Prayer for the Fallen” and displayed before and after images from the Russian invasion, specifically cultural centers in Rubizhne, Mariople, and Bakhmut. At the end of the piece, ballerina Natalia Matsak raises her hand while covered in the glow of a red light, and collapses on stage. The pain and hurt this war has inflicted is inescapable. This moment allowed for a refocusing on the importance of dance for cultural assertion, and its powerful ability for storytelling.
During intermission Jeremy Courtney, the CEO of Humanite Peace Collective had an opportunity to speak. Humanite Peace Collective was a sponsor of the show and was accepting donations from the audience, to go directly to the Ukrainian people in support of crisis relief, refugee aid and rebuilding infrastructure. Courtney stressed the importance of the performance in raising awareness and building support for Ukrainian cultural resistance.
Stand-out performances in the second act were the variations from the ballet Don Quixote, showcasing the dynamics and strength of principal dancers Olga Golytsia and Mykyta Sukhorukov.
As the curtain finally closed on the show, its impact was permanent. Not only was the extreme talent of the Ukrainian national ballet made obvious, but their intent in performing was clear. In a war aimed directly at erasure and destruction of cultural identity, this company stands as a symbol that Ukraininans have a right to exist and reclaim their cultural values. As the company continues on their American tour, it will continue to show how powerful art can be as a means of awareness and a tool in combating the evils of warfare.
