United Ukrainian Ballet perform Alexei
Ratmansky’s Giselle in London to support Ukraine
Tuesday 13th – Saturday 17th September 2022
London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES
All profits from ticket sales will go to support the people and culture of Ukraine
Public booking opens Monday 11th July 2022 at 10am
A remarkable company of dancers will unite in a powerful interpretation of one of the greatest
works of the classical repertoire, specially created for them by renowned choreographer Alexei
Ratmansky. The United Ukrainian Ballet formed after Ukrainian dancers fled their homeland,
and is based in The Hague at the former Royal Conservatoire building, given to the Company to
live and work in through the generous support of local business and the government. The
production, at the London Coliseum in September, will be supported by English National Opera
and Birmingham Royal Ballet, who will provide the orchestra, set and costumes.
Each member of the Company has their own story of how they escaped the devastating war in
their homeland to reach safety and join the Company. The personal journeys of the refugee
dancers, and the urgency of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, resonate powerfully with Giselle’s
timeless themes of love, betrayal, death and mercy. This unique and moving performance is set
to be a highlight of this year’s West End calendar. This is a unique opportunity to see a powerful
and moving interpretation of one of the greatest romantic ballets of all time, with a company of
world-class artists united by the tragedy of war and an ardent hope for the future.
One of the greatest choreographers of his generation, Alexei Ratmansky, himself a Ukrainian
citizen, is donating his time to join the Company to create his new interpretation of Giselle
specifically for them. The season will feature guest performances from Alina Cojocaru and Katja
Khaniukova.
The sets and costumes, designed by Hayden Griffiths, are generously loaned by Birmingham
Royal Ballet and the dancers will be accompanied by the full orchestra of the English National
Opera, under the baton of Viktor Oliynyk, conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine.
All profits from ticket sales will be given to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and the
United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation, which has been set up in the Netherlands to protect,
support and spread Ukrainian culture.
Having been founded as a result of the Russian Invasion, the United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation
exists to protect, support and spread Ukrainian culture. Five large dance studios and classrooms
at The Hague have been converted to bedrooms for the company who live and work at the
centre. They are supervised by former prima ballerina of the Dutch National Ballet, Igone de
Jongh, who provides instruction along with other repetiteurs from the Kylian Foundation.