MAEBASHI -- Kyiv Ballet's Japan tour has kicked off in Maebashi with 22 dancers flying in from the many parts of Europe where they have been based after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced them from their homes.
This is the first overseas tour for the company since the start of the invasion. Following Friday's first performance, the troupe is scheduled to tour 16 cities across Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka, through to Aug. 9.
Founded in the 19th century, the prestigious company has many fans in Japan.
Of its 120 dancers, 90 are currently living outside Ukraine.
The latest tour was realized thanks to the efforts of the troupe's deputy artistic director, Nobuhiro Terada, and others, by inviting 22 dancers to Japan from various European countries.
At Friday's show at Maebashi's Beisia cultural hall, the dancers performed Ukraine's hopak folk dance and a piece created for this tour called "Himawari" (Sunflower).
After the performance, the audience responded with prolonged applause, and a curtain call followed.
"I'm so happy for them that they were able to be reunited in Japan and dance together despite this extremely difficult situation," said a 44-year-old ballet teacher working in the city. "I got so much energy from their performance."
リライト前
侵略で離散のキエフ・バレエ団、日本ツアー開幕…欧州各地からダンサー２２人集結
ロシアの侵略が続くウクライナの「キエフ・バレエ団」の日本ツアーが１５日、前橋市のベイシア文化ホールで始まった。８月まで全国１６都市を回る。
同団は１９世紀に創設された名門で、日本でも人気が高い。しかし、現在は１２０人のダンサーのうち９０人が同国外に退避している。今回のツアーは、同団の副芸術監督の寺田宜弘さん（４６）らの尽力で、欧州各国で活動するダンサー２２人が来日して実現した。
この日の公演では、民族舞踊を取り入れた「ゴパック」や、今回のツアーのために創作した「ひまわり」などを生き生きと踊った。終演後は拍手が鳴りやまず、カーテンコールが続いた。
同市でバレエ教師をしている横山ゆみさん（４４）は「大変な状況の中、日本で集まって踊れて良かった。元気をもらった」と話した。
日本ツアーの初日公演を行う、キエフ・バレエ団のメンバー（１５日、前橋市で）
Kiev Ballet kicks off Japan tour with 22 dancers gathering from European cities
MAEBASHI -- Kyiv Ballet's Japan tour has kicked off in Maebashi, with 22 dancers flying from many parts of Europe where they are based after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced them to leave their home.
This is the first overseas tour for the company after the invasion. Following Friday's first performance, the troupe is scheduled to tour 16 cities across Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka, through to Aug. 9.
Founded in the 19th century, the prestigious company has many fans also in Japan. Of its 120 dancers, 90 are currently living outside Ukraine. The latest tour was realized thanks to the efforts of the troupe's deputy artistic director, Nobuhiro Terada, 46, and others, by inviting 22 dancers to Japan from various European countries.
At Friday's show at Maebashi's Beisia cultural hall, the dancers performed the hopak Ukrainian folk dance and "Himawari" (Japanese word for sunflower), a piece created for this tour. After the performance, the audience applauded endlessly, and a curtain call followed.
"I'm so happy for them that they were able to be reunited in Japan and dance together despite this extremely difficult situation," said a 44-year-old ballet teacher of the city. "I got so much energy from their performance."
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Kyiv Ballet dancers perform on the first day of their Japan tour in Maebashi on Friday.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
