Grand Kyiv Ballet Makes Taiwan Debut in Shadow of War at Home
By Howard Chang/Irene Lin
The internationally acclaimed Grand Kyiv Ballet from Ukraine is making its debut in Taiwan, staging "Swan Lake" at the Taipei Performing Arts Center over the weekend. As war continues back home, the touring company opens up about rehearsing abroad, coping with constant news of airstrikes and using the power of ballet to convey Ukraine’s strength and resilience to audiences around the world.
Showing off masterful footwork... these are dancers from the internationally acclaimed Grand Kyiv Ballet from Ukraine, preparing to stage “Swan Lake” in Taipei this weekend.
On the day of their first-ever show in Taiwan... the dancers reveal how they cope with the war back home as they tour.
MYKOLA CHOMA, PRINCIPAL DANCER, GRAND KYIV BALLET:
"You have to leave this [world] on the stage. It’s actually interesting and at the same time, a difficult part of your work."
The company’s founder says a friend back in Ukraine told him of another airstrike on the night of the opening show... reminding him of the time when they had to rehearse in other countries to avoid the war.
OLEKSANDR STOIANOV, FOUNDER, DIRECTOR, GRAND KYIV BALLET:
"We have a base in Poland, also we have one base in the United States. We try to practice outside of Ukraine. It’s more safety for the dancer and for their families."
Taking on the central dual role of the white swan and the black swan is Tamai Chihiro from Japan. She says the war has made practicing a big challenge... but she has figured out her own approach to perfecting the role.
TAMAI CHIHIRO, PRINCIPAL DANCER, GRAND KYIV BALLET:
"When I play black swan or white swan, I never try to become black swan or white swan, because I think every person has different faces. Some faces [are] similar to white swan, and I have some faces which [are] similar to black swan."
Grand Kyiv Ballet will perform at the Taipei Performing Arts Center from Friday to Sunday... carrying Ukraine’s resilience onto the local stage.
