Kyiv sees the dance festival for the fifth time

The Children and Ballet Stars of Ukraine and Russia festival is organized by the Kyiv Municipal Lifar Ukrainian Dance Academy and dedicated to the ending of the Year of Ukraine in Russia and beginning of the Year of Russia in Ukraine.

“Next year the Dance Academy will mark its tenth anniversary,” theater critic Yury Stanishevsky told The Day. “It was created at the National Opera, meaning that we were able to make true the dream of outstanding ballet dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar. Children start their studies at the age of four. Among our students were many of today’s leading dancers at the Kyiv Opera. While at the Choreographic School they study only classical dance, here we do not content ourselves with the classics. Children study folklore, jazz, step, and athletic dance. The pupils have various options. If growing up a child doesn’t satisfy the requirements of the classical dance, he or she can be transferred to a folklore or athletic class, while at a choreographic school he would be simply expelled.

“We are pleased that many our students are winners of the most prestigious European and world competitions in athletic dances. We prepare not only dancers but also choreography coaches and choreography directors. We have students not only from Ukraine but also from the far and near abroad.

“Our students took part in the gala concert of the Children and Ballet Stars of Ukraine and Russia festival: Natalka Domracheva, Vitia Ishchuk, and Khrystyna Shyshpor, who now dance solo parts in many of the National Opera’s performances. For instance, Khrystyna, being a first year student, has already quite a few awards in her creative holdings: golden medal at the Hryhorovych contest and silver one at a ballet contest in Moscow.”