Kyiv City Ballet: An emergency fundraiser for the people of Ukraine

Music Hall Center and Detroit Opera have partnered to support the company in their time of need and will present the Ballet Company as fundraiser. ALL NET PROCEEDS WILL GO TO REAL HELP FOR UKRAINE WHO HELP MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AND PAYMENTS FOR DISPLACED UKRAINIANS INTO AIR BNB’S IN SURROUNDING COUNTRIES UNTIL IT IS SAFE FOR THEM TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

The Kyiv City Ballet (www.kcbtheater.com), under the artistic direction of Ivan Kozlov, is a US premiere and marks the Kyiv City Ballet’s first United States performances ever. Touring the States for the first time with support from Rhizome, Kyiv City Ballet will offer a range of ballets to USA audiences makes an important global statement,” said Ivan Kozlov, Artistic Director, “It demonstrates the resilience of the Ukrainian people.” (Broadway World). In this historic tour, the company continues to live out its mission—to bring joy to audiences through ballet.

“Ukraine’s ballet dancers are a ‘voice of resistance’ amid a greater struggle. ‘Culture is a dedicated target in the Russian war strategy.’ But these ballet dancers—displaced in France—will keep performing.” —National Geographic

The day before Ukraine was invaded in February, The Kyiv City Ballet unknowingly took one of the last flights out of Kyiv. The company flew to Paris to begin a long planned tour. They have not returned home. The country of France sheltered them and the company has been performing throughout France, and now Europe, since the invasion began.

The program will include a mixed repertory program of three ballets: Thoughts (choreography by Vladyslav Dobshynskyi) a contemporary ballet, Tribute to Peace (choreography by Ekaterina and Ivan Kozlov) a neo-classical work, and Men of Kyiv (choreography by Pavlo Virsky) a Ukranian folk dance.

“We are honored to share the beauty of ballet with US audiences, through Ukranian artists” said Ivan Kozlov, Artistic Director. “Touring the States for the first time with a range of ballets makes an important global statement. It demonstrates the resilience of the Ukrainian people.”

The Kyiv City Ballet’s mission is to bring joy to audiences through ballet by bringing exemplary artists to theatres around the world. In the past decade, the company has successfully toured throughout dozens of countries on four continents.

Two of Ukraine’s prima ballerinas: Krystina Kadashevych and Oksana Bondarenko will perform with the company on their US tour. The company’s principal dancer is Vsevolod Maevskiy, a former soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet and Kozlov’s former student.

“We are humbled that Rhizome has been asked to produce and strategically support the Kyiv City Ballet on their very first tour to the United States,” said producer Kristopher McDowell. “That major cultural arts centers across the country are coming together to open their doors and their hearts is extraordinary. It is very clear  this company and their artistry will have great appeal to non-dance and dance audiences alike.”