A review by Chris Heide
People's Artists of Ukraine Kateryna Kukhar and Oleksandr Stoianov.
Resilience, inspiration, and hope. These themes resonate through the lyricism and movement of the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s rendition of Giselle.
Giselle is one of the most well know ballets in the world of dance and countless iteration have been performed globally. This interpretation, however, is unique. This production of the timeless classic was born out of the tragedy and genocide that has been inflicted upon Ukraine. The personal story of two of the principal dancers is both harrowing and moving.
“Theirs is an incredible story of resilience and inspiration. Principal Dancers Kateryna Kukhar and Alex Stoianov, who now call Seattle their temporary home due to the conflict in Ukraine, were continents away from their two children when the war erupted with no means of returning. They were in France, preparing for their final performance. Originally planning to return to Kyiv, their lives were upended when they received news at 5 am of the war’s outbreak and bombings. This resilient couple undertook extraordinary efforts, with the help of friends and family, and worked tirelessly to evacuate their children from Ukraine. Regrettably, not all their relatives could be relocated to a fully secure location, as Kateryna’s parents bravely chose to remain in Kyiv, demonstrating unwavering strength in the face of adversity. They were reunited with their loved ones three days later, but this life-altering experience led to a profound change in the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s mission. Founder Oleksandr Stoianov declared, “Now we have another mission. When the war started, we started dancing for our country. It is our cultural frontline”
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Is this the most impressive ballet I have ever seen, in term of chorographical precision and technique? No. It is, however, one of the most moving performances I have seen in a long time. The technique itself is a somewhat messy; there is, however, a beauty in that messiness and beautiful juxtaposition to the foundations of traditional ballet. Built upon the ashes of tragedy, this production utilizes dance to elevate the experience of human resilience and triumph. There is a palpable and pure joy that radiates from the dancers. And I felt joy watching their joy.
People's Artists of Ukraine Kateryna Kukhar and Oleksandr Stoianov.
While the Grand Kyiv ballet concludes its first national tour on May 3rd, the impact of the company and the dancers has left a lasting impression. It is an awe-inspiring cultural resistance in the face of tragedy.