Young Ukrainian dancers, trapped abroad, get Paris residency

PARIS — The dancers are torn between physique and thoughts — bodily on stage in Paris however in spirit again residence in Kyiv.

In different circumstances, the Kyiv Metropolis Ballet’s residency on the Théâtre du Chatelet can be a dream come true, however the stranded firm of younger dancers feels little however heartbreak.

“We are both physically and emotionally exhausted,” Ekaterina Kozlova, the corporate’s deputy director, advised The Related Press. “Everyone in the ballet is worried about their families, loved ones, friends, colleagues at home. It’s been very difficult.”

The Théâtre du Chatelet, within the coronary heart of the French capital, supplied them the stage on Tuesday for the final present of a French tour that has left the corporate stranded after the struggle broke out in Ukraine.

The dance director of the Paris Opera together with a few of her firm’s greatest joined them for an open class earlier than performing collectively a medley of ballet classics, with excerpts from Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

Being given the chance to coach and dance was for a lot of an opportunity to deal with “something other than the conflict in Ukraine,” Kozlova stated.

One of many dancers will likely be headed to the Ukrainian border within the coming days to choose up her younger daughter who was accompanied in another country.

Solely part of the corporate was travelling round France performing a shortened model of The Nutcracker for younger audiences — a lot of the dancers in Paris are of their early 20s. Most of the ballet’s star dancers stayed behind, ready to affix their mates after they reached Paris.

“Most of our artists are stuck in Ukraine,” Director Ivan Kozlov advised the gang.

The town of Paris and the ballet group have helped discover short-term lodging for the Ukrainian dancers who say they want to proceed dancing in France and elsewhere. The Chatelet theater supplied the whole group a residency, though Tuesday’s last-minute efficiency is their final for now.

All proceedings from their performances will go to nongovernmental organizations accumulating and transport humanitarian support to Ukraine and neighboring nations.

Ukrainian dancers have additionally sought refuge elsewhere. The Romanian Nationwide Opera supplied six ballet dancers fleeing from the struggle in Ukraine an opportunity to work with their ballet corps, and a few of them could possibly be performing in a month.

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Comply with the AP’s protection of the Ukraine disaster at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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