‘Tribute to Peace’
We had a wonderful opportunity to attend a performance by the Kyiv City Ballet at Oklahoma City Community College last weekend.
This is a part of their first USA tour. This time it’s a tour of larger cities September 14 to October 27. This tour is very stressful and exhausting for the ballet company, because there was not much time for planning, but they said they enjoyed introducing the art of Ukraine to the people of the United States.
The OCCC program included “Tribute to Peace”, a neo-classical work, choreographed by Ivan Kozlov and his wife. The theme of peace was prevalent in the production. The audience can see what life should be without conflict, without anger, and without despair. This ballet was created especially by Kyiv City Ballet for the USA 2022 tour.
Also, people experienced the classic suites Paquita, Don Quixote and La Bayadere. There ballets are more than a century old, but are still some of the most popular performances today. Importantly, Ukraine’s prima ballerinas, Kristina Kadashevich and Oksana Bondarenko performed brilliantly.
Also very worthy of attention the “Men of Kyiv,” a Ukrainian folk dance choreographed by Pavlo Virsky. This piece included some of the most exciting and difficult movements. The dancers were able to demonstrate truly incredible technique and skills.
Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet Artist Director, allowed an interview for the Weatherford Daily News Ukrainian language intern Nataliia Duren. In an interview, he shared his plans for the future, told about his background and the ballet, and how they are going through this difficult time for Ukraine together. He said the team is more united now than ever. Everyone left their relatives in Ukraine and every day they share news about Ukraine with each other.
Kozlov said, “We really like the warm atmosphere and attitude toward us. We were welcomed very well, with much support and worry. We have a desire to come with a longer tour next time.
They flew from Ukraine to France February 23, one day before the start of the war. The company flew to Paris to begin a long-planned threeweek tour and have not returned.
In France, they worked with Theatre du Chatelet, Theatre de la Ville and Opera Garnier. Their ballet “the Nutcracker” was very successful in France. They also performed in England and now England is waiting for the next tour in the spring. After England, they decided to continue touring in the USA. North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma have already seen and appreciated these talented artists. Ivan said about his troupe, “They are talented, pure in mind and bright in soul.” They were the first Ukrainian company which danced on the stage in New York City Center. It was a very successful show. They premiered a new their play “Thoughts” with great accolades from New Yorkers.
They did not leave the audience in Oklahoma without enthusiasm. At the end of the performance, people gave a standing ovation.
The troupe all want to return to Ukraine and continue work with Kyiv City Ballet in the near future and share experience and achievements in their native country.
Ivan said, “I’m grateful to all countries, that it not remain indifferent and help to Ukraine. And he thanks the soldiers of Ukraine, who heroically fight for independence and thanks to whom Ukraine still exists. I believe that Ukraine will win.”
Now the whole world has seen how the legend of a huge country with an army which is feared by half the world has been destroyed and a new legend was born about a small country whose army no one believed in, but which is becoming legendary.