"SLEEPING BEAUTY" AWAKENS MADRID The Ukrainian National Opera performs in Spain

It was the Ukrainian ballet company’s second visit to Madrid. Last year, Kyiv dancers were selected to participate in the opening ceremony of the Lope de Vega Theater after a long period of repair. Kyiv ballet captivated the Spaniards, so that when it came time to make the choice no one doubted for a moment. The tour’s first performance, Sleeping Beauty was described by local critics as a “truly historic event.” Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Taranenko later admitted that a number of VIPs tried to use diplomatic channels, calling the embassy, asking to help them with tickets. On August 20, the audience boasted King Juan Carlos’s daughter.

The talented Ukrainian dancers were admired not only by rank-and-file theatergoers, but also by genuine ballet gourmets. Roger Salas, the most authoritative Spanish ballet critic, author of fundamental works, contributed an article to the central newspaper El Pais, titled “Great Surprise and Great Beauty”:

“It is truly a great ballet. The Kyiv company’s rendition of Sleeping Beauty is the best Spain has witnessed for at least 20 years... It leaves far behind the pompous versions of the British Royal Opera House and Paris Opera Ballet in which one finds a lot of funds, frills, but less historical truth... The Kyiv rendition exudes some magic force. Tetiana Borovyk’s Lilac Fairy is a true Queen, the Dame of the Feast. This dancer shows excellent technique and brilliant dramatic identification — all that which is inherent in a prima ballerina in her creative prime.”

The National Opera showed off five renditions in Madrid: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Suite, as well as Prokofiev’s Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet.

Josinto Rua Rodrigues, perhaps the richest man in Spain and, absolutely smitten by the Ukrainian ballet, is determined to have the next performance at the Eliseo Theater in Barcelona. He is also convinced that the Ukrainian ballet is “the best company Madrid has seen in the past several years. I would also like to add that Kyiv ballet’s choreographic culture is practically unknown in the West. I would want nothing better than for you to retain it for many years to come.”