Due to public demand for tickets to The United Ukrainian Ballet’s production of Swan Lake, there wereadditional final performance for Melbourne last Sunday, October 23 at 6pm at the Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre.
The United Ukrainian Ballet brought together award-winning dancers from Ukraine’s finest ballet houses including The National Opera of Ukraine, Kharkiv Opera Theatre and Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Each member of the Company has their own story of how they escaped the devastating war in their homeland to reach safety and join the Company.
Under the artistic direction of Igone de Jonge, former prima ballerina of the Dutch National Ballet, the Company have been living and rehearsing together since fleeing Ukraine.
Of Russian and Ukrainian descent, Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky composed Swan Lake in 1875-76.
During the Soviet era, the ballet’s televising was often associated with political instability and upheaval.
In more recent times its symbolism has become inextricably defined as a protest work by many Russians ardently opposed to the occupation of Ukraine.
www.swanlake.com.au
Cheryl Threadgold