In October, the National Ballet of Ukraine will tour the United States for the first time since independence. This was announced by the organizers at a press conference in Washington, DC. From October 8 to 30, the company will visit 16 cities on the East Coast of America, starting with Washington, DC. The first of twenty performances will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts.
The ballet will perform classical productions such as "Don Quixote, Taras Bulba, The Night Before Christmas and Harlequinade. The Ukrainian dancers will be joined by members of the Canadian folklore group Shumka.
A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and charitable contributions will be used to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The tour is organized by the American organization Humanite, Princeton Entertainment and the Edward Haddock Family Foundation with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States.
"The National Ballet of Ukraine is undoubtedly one of the leading ballet companies in the world," said Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, "but this tour is about much more than ballet performances. It is a symbol of the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people and an opportunity for Ukraine to showcase its rich and wonderful cultural heritage", said Ambassador Oksana Markarova.
Humanite CEO Jeremy Courtney emphasized the importance of the tour to support those affected by the war in Ukraine.
After Washington, the artists will visit Philadelphia, Boston, several cities in New Jersey, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta and several cities in Florida.