One of the stars of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, Olga Smirnova, has quit the company over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will instead dance for the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam.
The move comes after the St. Petersburg-born ballerina denounced the conflict, saying that "a line has been drawn."
In a statemxjmtzywent published Wednesday, the Dutch National Ballet said Smirnova had been "welcomed with open arms." She is expected to make her debut there with its staging of "Raymonda," which premieres in early April.
- WATCH: Joy Malbon on latest attacks in Ukraine
- Latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war
- Polling shows Russia-Ukraine war a ‘reset’ for Liberals
Smirnova joined the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet in 2011, before taking lead roles in performances of "Swan Lake" and "Giselle," among others. She has since toured internationally with the troupe and has appeared as a guest performer for the American Ballet Theatre and the Vienna State Ballet.
Smirnova, whose grandfather is Ukrainian, wrote on Telegram that she is "against war with all the fibers of my soul."
"I never thought I would be ashamed of Russia," she wrote in the statement, which was later republished by the Dutch National Ballet. "I have always been proud of talented Russian people, of our cultural and athletic achievements. But now I feel that a line has been drawn that separates the before and the after.
"It hurts that people are dying, that people are losing the roofs over their heads or are forced to abandon their homes. And who would have thought a few weeks ago that all of this would happen? We may not be at the epicenter of the military conflict, but we cannot remain indifferent to this global catastrophe."
In a statement, the Dutch National Ballet’s artistic director, Ted Brandsen, described Smirnova as an "exceptional dancer who I admire very much."
"It is a privilege to have her dance with our company in the Netherlands — even if the circumstances that drove this move are incredibly sad," he added.
The announcement comes a little over a week after two other Bolshoi members — Brazilian soloist David Motta Soares and Italian principal dancer Jacopo Tissi — both announced they were resigning. Explaining his decision via Instagram, Tissi said that Russia’s actions left him "unable to continue with my career in Moscow," adding that "no war can be justified."
The Bolshoi Theatre’s music director, Tugan Sokhiev, also quit earlier this month, amid growing pressure to condemn the invasion. In a lengthy statement, he also announced his resignation from the Toulouse Capitol National Orchestra, saying that calls for him to speak out left him with "the impossible option of choosing between my beloved Russian and beloved French musicians."
One of the world’s oldest ballet companies, the Bolshoi is among Russia’s most prestigious cultural institutions, though it has longstanding ties to the Russian state.
As a result, the U.K.’s Royal Opera House has cancelled a residency by the troupe, scheduled for this summer, according to a statement provided to CNN.
Elsewhere, the New York Metropolitan Opera’s decision to cease working with any Russian artists or organizations that support Russian President Vladimir Putin means that it will likely freeze its relationship with the Bolshoi. The two institutions are currently scheduled to stage a co-production of Wagner’s "Lohengrin" next year.
___
Get in touch
Do you have both Ukrainian and Russian family members? How are you handling the crisis? Email [email protected].
- Please include your name, location, and contact information if you are willing to speak to a journalist with CTV News.
- Your comments may be used in a CTVNews.ca story.
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
Bolshoi Ballet soloists and Benois de la Danse laureates Olga Smirnova and Semion Chudin perform the Adagio from the Taming of the Shrew during a Nominees Gala Concert in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia, on May 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
