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‘We cannot remain indifferent’: Russian star ballerina Olga Smirnova quits Bolshoi Ballet
The transfer comes after the St. Petersburg-born ballerina denounced the battle, saying that “a line has been drawn.”
In an announcement printed Wednesday, the Dutch Nationwide Ballet mentioned Smirnova had been “welcomed with open arms.” She is predicted to make her debut there with its staging of “Raymonda,” which premieres in early April.
Smirnova joined the distinguished Bolshoi Ballet in 2011, earlier than taking lead roles in performances of “Swan Lake” and “Giselle,” amongst others. She has since toured internationally with the troupe and has appeared as a visitor performer for the American Ballet Theatre and the Vienna State Ballet.
Smirnova, whose grandfather is Ukrainian, wrote on Telegram that she is “towards struggle with all of the fibers of my soul.”
“I by no means thought I’d be ashamed of Russia,” she wrote within the assertion, which was later republished by the Dutch Nationwide Ballet. “I’ve at all times been pleased with proficient Russian folks, of our cultural and athletic achievements. However now I really feel {that a} line has been drawn that separates the earlier than and the after.
“It hurts that persons are dying, that persons are shedding the roofs over their heads or are compelled to desert their houses. And who would have thought just a few weeks in the past that every one of this may occur? We will not be on the epicenter of the navy battle, however we can not stay detached to this world disaster.”
Olga Smirnova performing within the “Casse-Noisette et Compagnie” (Nutcracker and Firm), a creation by French dancer and choreographer, Jean-Christophe Maillot, in Monaco in 2015. Credit score: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Pictures
In an announcement, the Dutch Nationwide Ballet’s inventive director, Ted Brandsen, described Smirnova as an “distinctive dancer who I love very a lot.”
“It’s a privilege to have her dance with our firm within the Netherlands — even when the circumstances that drove this transfer are extremely unhappy,” he added.
High picture caption: Dancer Olga Smirnova throughout a gala live performance of the Svetlanov State Educational Symphony Orchestra of Russia and the Sveshnikov State Educational Russian Choir on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.