Grand Kyiv Ballet, with its roots in the capital city of Ukraine, will perform Giselle on Friday, March 15 at Atlanta Symphony Hall, as part of a 60-city tour.
Giselle, a classical French ballet, tells the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman disguised as a commoner. Tragically, the girl dies of a broken heart when she discovers the truth about her lover’s identity.
The ballet, which had its world premiere in Paris in 1842, is known for its stunning choreography and beautiful music, and is a true masterpiece of the ballet repertoire.
Oleksandr “Alex” Stoianov founded the Grand Kyiv Ballet after he and his wife, Kateryna Kukhar, both dancers from the National Opera and Ballet of Ukraine, fled their home with their family during the Russian invasion. The couple escaped to Seattle, with help from Vera Altunina and the International Ballet Academy in Bellevue, and started the company.
A portion of the proceeds from the ballet will be headed towards the renovation efforts of the war-damaged Kyiv State Choreographic College in Kyiv.
For more information, visit www.www.aso.org.
Photo: A scene from Kyiv Ballet’s Giselle coming to Atlanta Symphony Hall.
