The National Ballet of Ukraine, one of the world’s most famous companies, will stop in Quebec and Montreal this winter as part of a charity tour of Canada.
In total, the troupe, whose tour begins on January 15th at the Grand Théâtre de Québec, will offer 30 performances in around ten Canadian cities from mid-January to mid-February to raise funds for the Olena Foundation. Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, for the reconstruction of medical and educational facilities in Ukraine.
“It is an honor for us to come and represent our country,” emphasized Natalia Matsak, principal ballerina of the National Ballet of Ukraine, before continuing with a lively tribute to her friend, dancer Oleksandr Shapoval, who died at the front Almost a year ago to the day, the war that was triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke out.
“After 28 years on the stage, he volunteered to defend the people of his country, even though he knew he would risk his own life,” she said.
“This war has cost us so much, but let’s not let it make us who we are.” Since the conflict began, so many artists have left the country and many of them will probably never return. But I firmly believe that artists, whether on stage or on the battlefield, have a role to play in preserving our identity,” she added at a news conference in Montreal on Tuesday.
“As we present this ballet across Canada, we will talk about beauty, elegance and a land that suffers but shares its beauty with us. […] “It is the first time, and I hope it will not happen again to anyone, to be associated with a benefit tour for an entire country,” explained the show’s producer, Paul Dupont-Hébert, who wants to unite Canadian dance enthusiasts for this cause.
Before the outbreak of war in February 2022, the National Ballet of Ukraine performed 16 productions a month at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera. Today the number of productions has been reduced due to the war and the weekly performances have been reduced to half.
A classic high-level program
Although the official program has not yet been announced, Canadians can look forward to seeing excerpts from some of the world’s greatest ballets, including Le Corsaire, Don Quixote and La Esmeralda.
The show, titled “Nadyia Ukraine” (Hope for Ukraine), brings 27 of the internationally renowned troupe’s 150 dancers to the stage.
Donations can also be made on the show’s official website. All of their contributions will be donated to the Olena Zelenska Foundation, while ticket prices will help cover the cost of the tour.
The National Ballet of Ukraine will stop at the Grand Théâtre de Québec on January 15th and 16th and at the Théâtre St-Denis from January 17th to 19th before continuing its journey to Western Canada.
To make a donation or get tickets, click here.