Dance for Ukraine: International ballet stars bring the world together in passionate display
How should the arts world respond to Russia’s war on Ukraine? The knee-jerk response has been to sever ties: Eurovision has banned Russia from competing, the Royal Opera House cancelled a Bolshoi Ballet residency, and the Glasgow Film Festival pulled two movies that received Russian state funding.
It’s an understandable impulse. Yet it feels fundamentally antithetical to the spirit of culture to “cancel” art and artists, including those who have denounced Vladimir Putin’s actions and those who aren’t safe to do so. Culture is where we come together, to promote understanding and cooperation. Art has no boundaries.
So, three cheers for a glorious event which encapsulated that ethos perfectly: Saturday night’s Dance for Ukraine charity gala at the London Coliseum, in which leading performers from numerous countries – including both Russia and Ukraine – joined forces. That international collaboration was actively celebrated: each artist was listed in the programme with their country of origin. The world was brought together through dance.
This triumphant fundraiser was the brainchild of former Royal Ballet stars Ivan Putrov (Ukraine) and Alina Cojocaru (Romania). The talented pair met as children in Kyiv and trained at its ballet school, with Putrov following in the footsteps of his parents, who danced with the National Opera of Ukraine. Putrov’s father is still in Kyiv. It’s clear that this was a very personal mission.
Days earlier, fellow Ukrainian dancer Artyom Datsishin died in a Kyiv hospital after being severely wounded by Russian artillery fire. It’s astonishing to think that just six months ago, Putrov was championing his nation’s talent in a Ukrainian ballet gala at Sadler’s Wells. Instead, this latest gala was about the fight for survival.
Putrov, Cojocaru and dance charity Inspiration in Motion assembled an impressive line-up in double-quick time, from Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova to English National Ballet lead principal Francesco Gabriele Frola. All donated their services, as did the English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The ENO also waived the rental fee for the 2,359-seater Coliseum – sold out for the performance – with all proceeds going to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Those proceeds, announced Putrov proudly in a pre-show speech, total at least ￡140,000.
“All funds raised will save lives,” he declared, before paying tribute to theatres like the Coliseum as community centres.
Cojocaru added that the gala was about “democracy, freedom and human rights” – sentiments appreciated by Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, who was in attendance.
The evening began with the audience (many wearing blue and yellow) standing for Ukraine’s national anthem. One man lifted a giant flag aloft, tears in his eyes.
Cojocaru also shared that Kyiv was where she learned to love dance, and it was that emotion which powered the performances.
Showstoppers included the remarkable Osipova in Ashes, and two thrillingly virtuosic pairs: Mayara Magri and Francesco Gabriele Frola in Le Corsaire, and Marianela Nu?es and Reece Clarke in Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. But this was a truly collective effort.
It was the most passionate display of dance that I have witnessed – and the most meaningful.
You can donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal at dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
