The Grand Kyiv Ballet was founded in 2014 by Oleksandr Stoianov, a premiere of theNational Ballet of Ukraine, beginning with a French tour of 35 theaters, with a troupe consisting of approximately 35 performers.[5][6]
In December, 2023, Stoianov told media that many of the performers of the Grand Kyiv Ballet use the money they earn through their performances to support their families inUkraine.[4]
Grand Kyiv Ballet works to support ballet dancers from Ukraine find places to train around the world, estimating they have helped more than 200 ballet children.[7] In October 2023, Kukhar expressed the importance of providing an opportunity for Ukrainian dancers to continue their careers following the destruction of many theaters in Ukraine, to share Ukrainian culture, and collecting funds to provide support toKyiv State Ballet College.[1][12][13]
In spring 2023, the group toured Europe, New Zealand, and the United States performing a two act production. The first act was a ballet version of theUkrainian work,The Forest Song, and the second act a ballet version ofDon Quixote.[25]
In January, 2023, theNational Opera of Ukraine, based inKyiv, issueda statement that independent companies with names similar to the Grand Kyiv Ballet do not represent the National Opera.[28] The statement also said that the similarly-named independent ballet company,Kyiv City Ballet, a ballet company founded in 2012 by Ivan Kozlov, does not represent the NOU either.[29]
In their statement, the National Opera of Ukraine emphasized their disagreement over performances of Russian composerTchaikovsky's works,The Nutcracker andSwan Lake, during Russia'sinvasion of Ukraine.[28][30] This opinion is not universally shared in the Ukrainian music community, with others emphasizing Tchaikovsky's connection to Ukraine including Tchaikovsky's Ukrainian heritage, Ukrainian influences on Tchaikovsky's music, and Tchaikovsky's time spent in Ukraine.[31]
