Public impressed by refugee Ukrainian ballet dancers: “Incredible statement”

Visitors to the performance Dancing in Defiance by the United Ukrainian Ballet company, which premiered last night in Amstelveen, were deeply moved by the performance. This became apparent when NH Nieuws talked to a number of them afterwards.

Premiere Dancing in Defiance in Amstelveen – NH News

“The dancers make an incredible statement for peace and against war through their art: the dance. And that has touched a lot of people,” says a man who watched with admiration. The company consists of more than sixty dancers, about twenty of whom are participating in this performance.

“I cried too much,” says one young woman. She appears to have fled Ukraine herself and is accompanied by her Polish-Dutch roommate. The woman has great respect for her talented compatriots. “I know the situation in Ukraine is difficult. It’s even hard to think straight and these dancers are doing such a good job. They train all day long and put in so much effort despite everything.”

“We remain unbeatable and unbreakable. And we always will”

dancer United Ukrainian Ballet

That this is not always easy, is evident from a video that will be shown during the premiere. One of the dancers is called just before a rehearsal by his father, who says he is one of the few soldiers to have survived a Russian attack. “But don’t think about it. You have to dance,” he says to his son.

The dancers didn’t just want to put on a good show on Sunday. They also came with a message: no matter how hard Russia tries to destroy it, Ukrainian culture will always survive. “We remain unbeatable and unbreakable. And we will remain so forever,” one of them addresses the audience before performing a traditional Ukrainian dance.

Reporter Celine Sulsters previously talked to a number of dancers. Watch the video below. Text continues below video.

Fled Ukrainian ballet dancers come to Amstelveen – NH News

Mayor of Amstelveen Tjapko Poppens is also impressed. “I found it penetrating. To me as a spectator it almost resembled the symbolism of a front line. It ends with folklore, a piece of tradition, where you saw the pride of the Ukrainians. Like: ‘they can’t break us’. You noticed it was more than just a premiere.”

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