United Ukrainian Ballet prepares for Asian debut of ‘Wartime Elegy’ in Taiwan

United Ukrainian Ballet prepares for Asian debut of ‘Wartime Elegy’ in Taiwan

2023-04-28

The United Ukrainian Ballet is in Taiwan, ready for the Asian debut of its latest performance this weekend. “Wartime Elegy” is a collection of dances meant as a love letter to the people of Ukraine. The performers say it has not been easy to produce a new ballet, amid Russia’s attacks on their country. After fleeing Ukraine and regrouping in the Netherlands, the ballet hopes to advocate for peace with their entrancing production.

A ballerina in a white tutu glides over the stage, performing the romantic pas de deux from “Giselle,” and mesmerizing the audience. This weekend will mark the first time that the United Ukrainian Ballet performs in Taiwan, and rehearsals are on.

Another impassioned duet, but this time from “Spartacus.” You can’t take your eyes off the dancers. This is the ballet’s newest performance, “Wartime Elegy,” which will be making its Asian debut in Taiwan.

Its choreographer is Alexei Ratmansky and it’s his first work since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It intends to convey the optimism of the Ukrainian people. The performers shared their pain for their country with reporters.

Oleksii Kniazkov
Ballet dancer
In Ukraine as you know it is quite complicated to do our work, our job. People should go to the shelters when there is an alarm. It’s a crazy situation. I don’t wish anyone to feel anything like this.

The 62 dancers in the troupe all left their homeland due to the war. They regrouped in the Netherlands, and are now touring the world to highlight the importance of peace. Now in Taiwan, they say unity is crucial for smaller countries.

Oleksii Kniazkov
Ballet dancer
I think that people should appreciate each other, respect each other, and try to unite. I think what Ukrainians did when the war began and it, I think, helped us to survive.

Paul Godfrey
Producer
Without saying anything specific, I don’t think big neighbors should invade little neighbors.

As Russia’s invasion is still ongoing, the members of the ballet posed on stage with a Ukrainian flag. They use their performances around the world to advocate for freedom and peace.

烏克蘭芭蕾舞團來台巡演對台喊話"要團結"

2023-04-28

烏俄戰爭爆發後，有多名頂尖的芭蕾舞者，被迫離開家園，最後落腳荷蘭，成立烏克蘭聯合芭蕾舞團，從去年開始帶著和平信念，展開世界巡迴表演，最新的一站來到台灣，帶來從未在亞洲亮相的新作品。團員也透露對家園的思念，向台灣民眾喊話，更團結一致。

身穿白紗長裙，輕巧跳躍，經典浪漫的吉賽兒雙人舞，驚豔眾人。烏克蘭聯合芭蕾舞團首次來台，為週末表演緊鑼密鼓排練。

豪邁、激昂的斯巴達雙人舞，讓人眼睛都捨不得眨一下，這回還帶來，從未在亞洲演出的新作品，戰時輓歌。

知名編舞家拉特曼斯基，在烏俄戰爭爆發後的第一部芭蕾新作，希望展現烏克蘭人的正向樂觀，舞者們也透露對家園的不捨之情。

[[烏克蘭舞者 Oleksii Kniazkov]]
“工作和生活都變得很艱辛，沒有了工作，人民需要躲在避難所，避免被戰火波及，這是一個誇張的狀態，我不希望任何人也經歷這般感受”

總共62位頂尖舞者，因為戰爭被迫離開家園，在荷蘭重新集結，帶著和平信念，展開巡迴演出，這回也台灣人喊話，身為小國要更團結。

[[烏克蘭舞者 Oleksii Kniazkov]]
“我認為人民需要互相支持，互相幫忙，嘗試去團結，我認為烏克蘭做到了，當戰爭發生時，團結一致讓我們存活下來”

[[舞團製作人 Paul Godfrey]]
“說直白一點，我認為大鄰居不該欺負小鄰居”

在戰火停止前，烏克蘭聯合芭蕾舞團，都會帶著這面烏克蘭國旗，在世界各地，用表演為自由發聲。

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