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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: FRANCE UKRAINE BALLET
HEADLINE: Refuged in Paris, Kyiv City Ballet Dances On
TEASER: Ukraine dancers have found a new home in the French capital
PUBLISHED AT: 06/14/2022 at Noon
BYLINE: Lisa Bryant
DATELINE: Paris
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:38
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)) [[About five million Ukrainian refugees have fled to other parts of Europe since Russia’s assault on their homeland began in February. Among them: nearly three dozen dancers from the Kyiv City Ballet. They’ve found refuge in Paris and continue to perform and plan foreign tours, but the conflict is never far away. For VOA, Lisa Bryant has more from Paris.]]
((NARRATOR))
For these Ukrainian dancers, an artistic tour around France has turned into an indefinite stay.
As they performed in Paris late February, Russia was invading their homeland.
[[RADIO VERSION: Ivan Kozlov is director of the Kyiv City Ballet.]]
((Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet Director — IN ENGLISH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“The day it happened everybody were on the phone, everybody allowed to bring their phone on stage so they could stay with their families. Everybody was shocked. Everybody didn't know what to do. ”
((NARRATOR))
Paris City Hall has granted Ivan Kozlov’s company artistic residency. This theater and others are putting them up at a suburban hotel.
[[RADIO VERSION: Kozlov said the welcome has come from none other than the mayor of Paris.]]
((Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet Director — IN ENGLISH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“We met Madame la Maire, Anne Hidalgo. We spoke on the stage and she said that now Theatre du Chatelet is our base, we can work here, we can perform here.
((NARRATOR))
Other Kyiv dancers have since joined the troop here in Paris.
[[RADIO VERSION: Among them is Yelyzaveta Nadenenko]]
((Yelyzaveta Nadenenko, Kyiv City Ballet Dancer — English - VOA ORIGINAL))
“After the war started, I understood that I can’t literally live without things I usually do without ballet. And I understood that this is exactly the thing which can save me. When we came here, practically no-one knew each other. But right now, we are very friendly.”
((NARRATOR))
Everyone here has family and friends back home, caught up in some way by the fighting. The troop is raising money for their homeland.
[[RADIO VERSION: Dancer Vladislav Dobshinskyi...))
((Vladislav Dobshinskyi, Kyiv City Ballet Dancer — MALE IN UKRAINIAN OR RUSSIAN “At first, I wanted to return to my family. But my parents said it wasn’t necessary. They wanted me to stay here and be safe.”
((Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet Director — IN ENGLISH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“We are the father and mother of 35 children here. We are all the time trying to organize everything for them and to keep them safe, to keep them healthy…It is very difficult to plan ahead…. because everything is changed all the time. We try to prepare some tours, but usually tours are prepared a year ahead.”
((NARRATOR))
There’s one thing Kozlov and his dancers are sure about…
((Ivan Kozlov, Kyiv City Ballet Director— IN ENGLISH - VOA ORIGINAL))
“My message is: we are unbreakable. Whatever happens, Ukraine will stand.”
((NARRATOR))
Like a good fairy tale, Kozlov believes, Ukraine will win the war.
((Lisa Bryant, for VOA News, Paris))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 14, 2022 12:29 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
