"'Giselle' is a dramatic story about love and death and forgiveness and it is relevant. It's a beautiful story to show the strength of these dancers," Ratmansky said. "Each of these dancers have their own quite dramatic stories, how they left home. Many of them have relatives who fight in the military. They're constantly checking the news." Ratmansky, a former principal dancer with the Ukrainian National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet, was director of the Bolshoi Ballet from 2004 before joining the American Ballet Theatre in 2009 as artist in residence. He was working with the Bolshoi on a new production when the conflict began.
"I got a call from my wife from New York saying that Kyiv, the city where my family lives and my wife's family lives, is being bombed by Russia," said Ratmansky, whose mother is Russian and father is Ukrainian. "I felt the world crushing and I had no choice. I had to leave the country that commits such a crime right away."
Russia denies targeting civilians, saying what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine aims to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities. Kyiv and the West say it is an unprovoked war of aggression.
"We all hope that as soon as war stops, these dancers will return to their home companies," Ratmansky said
One of the dancers is Oleksii Kniazkov, principal dancer of Kharkiv National Opera House.
Rehearsals have allowed him to think of something other than the war. "I can prepare for my performance... it takes a lot off your mind," he said.
The United Ukrainian Ballet is performing "Giselle" at the Coliseum until Sept. 17 with ticket profits going to the DEC Ukraine Appeal and United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation.
