Prominent Russian ballerina Olga Smirnova left her country to join the Dutch National Ballet after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The company announced her move on Wednesday, saying her opposition to the war and the isolation of Russian organizations from international events caused her to leave the country.
“I have to be honest and say that I am against the war with every fiber of my being,” Smirnova said in a Telegram message earlier this month. “I never thought that I would be ashamed of Russia, I have always been proud of the talented Russian people, our cultural and sporting achievements … But now I feel that a line has been drawn that separates before and after.”
“Dutch National Ballet suits me and is a great place to develop my career as a ballerina. I have been thinking about such a move for a long time – it’s just that the current circumstances have accelerated this process, ”she said.
Smirnova was a star of the Russian Bolshoi Ballet and a popular cultural figure in the country.
“Olga Smirnova is an outstanding dancer whom I greatly admire. I have followed her career with great interest over the years. It is a privilege that she dances with our troupe in the Netherlands, even if the circumstances that caused this move are incredibly sad. However, as a company, we are delighted to have such an inspiring dancer join us at the Dutch National Ballet,” said Ted Brandsen, director of the Dutch National Ballet.
Outspoken opposition to the war against Ukraine could lead to 15 years in prison in Russia, and other dancers who denounced the invasion have also fled the country, according to The New York Times.