Swan Lake / The Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal

A mythical ballet in the tradition of Giselle, symbolizing the Romantic dream and unrealizable ideals, Swan Lake is the very quintessence of classical ballet. This particular version, with its happy ending (unlike the dramatic ending of the Novosibirsk Ballet), was choreographed by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, but adapted for the National Ballet of Ukraine by Alexander Gorskij, a former artistic director of the company.

National Ballet of Ukraine

In the grand tradition of Russian ballet, the… Show more National Ballet of Ukraine is a veritable benchmark in international dance. Accompanied by the Orchestre des Grands Ballets, over 50 remarkable dancers will perform this timeless classic.

History of the National Ballet of Ukraine

On October 27, 1867, the curtain officially rose on the National Opera Theatre, where numerous classical operas would be performed. The ballet company of the National Opera of Ukraine was born in the early 20th century, featuring such dancers as Nezhinskaya, Kochetkovsky and Osovskaya. Two of the 20th century’s most distinguished dancers, Vaclav Nezhinsky and Serge Lifar, would also become members of the company. On October 18, 1931, the first Ukrainian ballet, Mr. Kanyovsky by M. Verikivsky, was performed.

In 1935, the company appeared at the London International Folklore Dance Festival, where it was awarded a gold medal. The National Ballet of Ukraine went on to become one of the foremost troupes in Europe. In the 1950s, it began to tour internationally and met with success in countries such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary and France. The troupe also took part in the 1964 International Dance Festival in Paris, where it received the Étoile d’Or – the highest prize from the French Dance Academy – and soloists Iraida Lukashova and Valeriy Parsegov received the Anna Pavlova Prize and Vaclav Nezhinskiy Prize, respectively. In later years, Tatyana Tayakina and Valery Kovtun would also receive these prestigious awards. Performances by the National Ballet of Ukraine in Paris became highlights of the European cultural calendar and forerunners of performances in Europe, America and Asia.

From 1992 to 2000, the company was directed by renowned choreographer Anatoly Shekera (1935-2000), whose name is indelibly associated with the National Ballet throughout the last three decades of the 20th century. In addition to classical works, he directed a wide range of modern productions as well.

The National Ballet of Ukraine has made an international name for itself with high-calibre performances and works rooted in the nation’s dance traditions. Denis Matvienko, a former principal dancer with the famous Mariinsky Ballet, recently took over the reins of the company.

Show less