92 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

ARTS&LIFE
DANCE

K

ristina Kadashevych, a Jewish 
member of the Kyiv City Ballet, 
left Ukraine for France the day 
before her country was attacked. The 
troupe, which has performed on four con-
tinents, has not returned to Ukraine and 
instead is performing in various countries 
to earn funds in support of the Ukrainian 
people. 
The troupe is performing in Detroit on 
Tuesday evening, Sept. 27, at the Music 
Hall Center for the Performing Arts. The 
program, among the company’s first trav-
els through the United States, also is sup-
ported by Detroit Opera. 
The group will present several reper-
toire pieces such as “Classical Suite,” “Men 
of Kyiv” and “
A Tribute to Peace.” The 
Kyiv City Ballet was founded 10 years ago 
by Ivan Kozlov, its current artistic director.
“Touring the States for the first time 
with a range of ballets makes an import-
ant global statement and demonstrates the 
resilience of the Ukrainian people,” Kozlov 
said. 
Funds raised in the program, “Tribute 
to Peace,” will be used for many purpos-

es including emergency food assistance, 
orphanages, child education, refugee shel-
ter, medical supplies, protective gear for 
first responders and delivery vehicles.
“Detroit always has been first in line to 
lend a helping hand when people are in 
trouble, and this fundraising performance 
will show it,” said Vince Paul, Music Hall 
president and artistic director.
Wayne Brown, Detroit Opera president 
and CEO, agreed: “Times such as these 
serve as a reminder of the value that arts 
and culture play throughout the globe. 
Detroit Opera is delighted to join forces 
with Music Hall in welcoming the Kyiv 
Ballet to Detroit.”

ONE-ON-ONE WITH KADASHEVYCH

To advance the company’s Detroit appear-
ances, Kadashevych answered questions, 
with help and by email, for the Detroit Jewish 
News:
JN: Have the ballets changed or evolved 
since the start of rehearsals?
KK: The ballets we will perform in the 
United States have changed and evolved 
based on our feelings and experience.
JN: How would you describe the dances/
ballets?
KK: We have many ballets, mostly clas-
sical, including “Petipa,” and also modern 
pieces. We will show some new pieces and 
some classics.
JN: How many members are in the com-
pany and have you become closer during 
rehearsals?
KK: We have around 40 people in our 
company now. Always, everyone in the 
ballet is close because we first study and 
then work together. We have become clos-
er during the past months than before. We 
are like one big family.
JN: What do you think makes the people 
in Ukraine so loyal to their country?
KK: I think everyone is loyal to their 

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kyiv City Ballet 
 Comes to Music Hall

Performance will support 
 humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

Details
The Kyiv City Ballet will perform 
at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 
at the Music Hall Center for the 
Performing Arts, 350 Madison, 
Detroit. $30-$75. (313) 857-8501. 
musichall.org.

Artists of 
the Kyiv City 
Ballet

continued on page 94

