Dancers with the National Ballet of Ukraine are coming to B.C. to entertain and also raise funds for people who live in the war-torn country.
A cross-Canada tour will include three performances of 91ƵNadyia Ukraine91Ƶ at Vancouver91Ƶs The Centre theatre (777 Homer St.) from Feb. 5 to 7, 2024.
The tour title means 91Ƶhope for Ukraine91Ƶ in that country91Ƶs language.
Sponsorships and donations will fund The Olena Zelenska Foundation and HUMANITE, which work with Ukrainian families 91Ƶto provide crisis relief, refugee aid and seed long-term projects to rebuild the country once peace prevails,91Ƶ according to a news release.
The Paul Dupont-Hébert-produced dance show will feature excerpts from some of the world91Ƶs most popular ballets, including 91ƵLe Corsaire91Ƶ and 91ƵDon Quixote,91Ƶ along with traditional Ukrainian dance.
Tour details were announced Tuesday (Sept. 26), when ticket sales launched on starting at $82.90 a seat.
Just announced: The National Ballet of Ukraine will tour Canada, Feb. 5-7 dates at Vancouver's Centre for Performing Arts. Tour is "a major fundraising campaign for the war effort" in for Olena Zelenska Foundation (First Lady's charity).
91Ƶ Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
Details:
The acclaimed ballet company features 150 dancers who now perform when they can at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera House in Kyiv, depending on the circumstances of war with Russia.
91ƵThis Canadian tour means so much as we represent our country to show the spirit of Ukraine through the power of art and beauty over tyranny and destruction,91Ƶ prima ballerina Olga Golytsia told reporters.
The winter tour starts in Quebec City on Jan. 15 and ends in Calgary nearly a month later.
Premier soloist Mykyta Sukhorukov said the ballet company is grateful to Canadians who support Ukraine 91Ƶas we fight for the free world and our own sovereignty,91Ƶ he stated in a news release.
91ƵMany of us have lost friends and loved ones because of this unprovoked and unjustified invasion,91Ƶ Sukhorukov said. 91ƵThe struggle of this war is hard91Ƶbut we are resilient, and we will win. Thank you for standing with us.91Ƶ
The Olena Zelenska Foundation is named for Ukraine91Ƶs First Lady.
91ƵIn this hour of need, we turn to you, our friends in North America, for love and support,91Ƶ Zelenska is quoted in a news release. 91ƵWe wish you enjoy amazing performances, feel inspired with Ukrainian culture, and be sure that only life can triumph over death, only light can overcome darkness, and only beauty can defeat destruction. Only together we will win.91Ƶ