Lifting Spirits: Kyiv Plans to Stage ‘Most English’ Ballet Following Russian Repertoire Boycott

One of the most iconic British ballets, La Fille mal gardée, will be showcased for the first time at the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv. This follows a decision to boycott classical Russian ballet works, such as Swan Lake and the Nutcracker, in response to the ongoing conflict. Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, a celebrated romantic comedy, will be put on for a sold-out audience on Thursday. Last year, the Ukrainian Minister of Culture called for a boycott of performances of works by Russian composers and choreographers. Nobuhiro Terada, the artistic director of ballet at the National Opera of Ukraine, stated that the issue became especially sensitive when dancers in Russian-occupied Ukraine used a symbol associated with support for the war, applying it after a performance. In the doughy lead character’s story, Lise chooses her love over her mother’s pick, the wealthy landowner’s dim-witted son Alain. Daniil Silkin, a 29-year-old soldier who has been performing as Alain, believes that the Ukrainian government’s boycott of seminal works is wrong. Although cultural institutions have been boycotting Russian composers, the National Opera of Ukraine will continue to perform other works, including those produced by Dutch choreographers and other international artists. Ivan Putrov, who has helped fund the production, believes that La Fille mal gardée has the potential to lift the spirits of Ukrainian people and is significant to their way of life.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jun/09/kyiv-english-ballet-la-fille-mal-garde-russian-repertoire-boycott