NAPLES – Ukrainian and Russian dancers from the some of the world’s most prestigious theatres will perform together in ‘Ballet for Peace’ on April 4 at the Teatro San Carlo to raise funds for Ukrainian charity, cultural sources said.

  The performance will feature the prima ballerina Olga Smirnova, one of Russia’s biggest dance stars who quit the Bolshoi Ballet company in Moscow after denouncing the invasion of Ukraine, and Anastasia Gurskaya, prima ballerina of the Kiev Opera, who recently fled her home country to escape the war. 

 "With the worsening of the situation in Ukraine,” said theatre superintendent Stéphane Lissner, “it is important, as a theatre, to give a concrete signal of closeness to those who suffer, for this reason we are preparing this fundraising Gala consistently with our mission as a place of culture.

 In this very difficult historical moment,” continued the superintendent, “this crisis is even more reminiscent of how fundamental the role of theatres and culture in general is.”

  The dancers who will share their talent and their hearts for an evening in the name of peace are Iana Salenko, Dinu Tamazlacrau, Anastasia Matvienko, Denis Matvienko, Maria Yakovleva, Denys Cherevychko, Kateryna Shalkina, Oscar Chacon, Maria Kochetkova, Sebastian Kloborg, Oleksandr Ryabko, Silvia Azzoni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Nicoletta Manni, Katja Khaniukova, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Alexey Popov, Liudmila Konovaova, Stanislav Olshanskyi, Christine Shevchenko, and Victor Caixeta, as well as Smirnova and Gurskaya.

 In addition to the international stars from the main European theatres, there will also be performing talented dancers from San Carlo Ballet Company directed by Clotilde Vayer: Anna Chiara Amirante, Luisa Ieluzzi, Alessandro Staiano and Stanislao Capissi. 

 On the initiative of Alessio Carbone, former Premier Danseur of the Paris Opera, the evening will see a succession of pas de deux and solos from the great classical and contemporary repertoire. 

 “Dance has the power to unite,” explains Carbone, “that's why the idea for this show was born.”

 “The rich history of classical dance and its tradition are deeply linked to Ukrainian and Russian cultures. We will use the strength of our passion and the beautiful friendship that exists between us dancers to help Ukraine and show the world that we are united for peace.”

 “In addition to the scheduled events, our purpose,” says the director Emmanuela Spedaliere, “is to give support, in the many educational projects active at the San Carlo, to young Ukrainians who have arrived in Naples, so that they can continue to cultivate their artistic interests. It is necessary to give them a sense of new normality in their study and training activities.

 “For this unscheduled event,” adds the director, “a pricing policy has been taken into account to consider everyone's needs with tickets from 15 to 50 euros. It will be possible to purchase online on the San Carlo website.”

ln