The National Ballet of Ukraine came on tour to Canada
Funds from ticket sales will go to help Ukrainians.
That evening, Montreal will witness one of the world's most famous ballet companies perform on the stage of the Théâtre Saint-Denis. The National Ballet of Ukraine, a company of 150 dancers, 23 of whom are on tour, has come to the heart of Canada.
Among them is the soloist Maryna Stepanchenko Bondziuk, whose life now consists of professional activities and anxiety for her loved ones in Kyiv. Marina and her colleagues not only represent Ukrainian culture on the international stage, but also aim to tell the world what is happening in their native country. Almost two years have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, and there is no end in sight to the conflict. With each passing day, the grief intensifies, and as Stepanchenko Bondziuk noted, it is especially important for Ukrainians that others do not forget their struggle.
The difficulties faced by dancers are not limited to family separation. Remembering Oleksandr Shapoval, a dancer and father of two children, who died in September 2022 defending the Donetsk region, Stepanchenko Bondziuk emphasized that many ballet dancers, in addition to their stage work, also serve in the army.
Ukrainian ballet before and after the outbreak of war
Before the war, the National Ballet of Ukraine gave up to 16 performances a month at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera House in Kyiv. Now the number of performances depends on the conditions dictated by the war.
For Ukrainians, who are in a state of constant tension, performances serve as a source of rare moments of relaxation and joy. As prima ballerina Natalia Matsak noted, the audience is grateful for the opportunity to forget their worries for at least a few hours.
The proceeds from the performances go to non-profit organizations such as the Elena Zelenska Foundation and HUMANITE, which provides support and assistance to Ukrainian families at war.
The Canadian tour will run through February 11. The company will perform on stages in cities across the country, including Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver — a total of 20 performances.
