Ukrainian-born dancer and former principal of The Royal Ballet Ivan Putrov will present Dance for Ukraine at The London Palladium on Sunday 18 February 2024, following the 2022 gala that raised more than £160,000 for the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Putrov’s second gala will feature former Bolshoi Ballet star and now current Principal of Dutch National Ballet Olga Smirnova—her first UK performances since leaving Russia in protest at the the war—stars of The Royal Ballet Marianela Núñez, Matthew Ball and William Bracewell and soloists from Ukrainian National Ballet.
English National Ballet Lead Principals Emma Hawes and Sangeun Leewill also perform and dancers from Ukraine will include ENB Junior Soloist Vsevolod Maievskyi and Artist of The Royal Ballet Marianna Tsembenhoi. Ukrainian pianist Sasha Grynyuk will also perform alongside mezzo-soprano Kseniia Nikolaieva.
Funds raised will support the arts in Ukraine with a new production for Ukrainian National Ballet of Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, the first British ballet to enter its repertoire.
Putrov said, “it is a privilege for us in the UK to bring a little light, hopefully, to the people of Ukraine. I am thankful to all the artists, creatives and organisations that have donated their services to this cause, and I am proud Olga has chosen to come to our gala in support of Ukraine and make her first appearance in London since leaving Russia. It has always been a dream of mine to bring La Fille mal gardée to Ukraine.”
Nobuhiro Terada, Artistic Director of Ballet at the of the National Opera House of Ukraine, added, “despite this terrible war, we are continuing to perform and are striving to keep the spirits of our dancers and our audiences high. I can’t imagine a more inspiring way to do this than to add this most delightful and heart-warming gem of British ballet to our repertoire.”