Ballerina dances Swan Lake on ice in protest
Why is this Russian ballerina dancing on frozen ice?
Location: Leningrad region, Russia
Ilmira Bagautdinova danced 'Swan Lake'
in 5°F on the frozen Gulf of Finland
to protest against the construction of a port in Batareinaya Bay
"I had this idea of course because one of the unique features of this place is that swans are coming there to nest, it is a unique part of it - to come and see them swimming. And of course, a swan is the most known image in ballet."
"It would be great if after I danced in the gulf, the construction would stop and we could save this amazing natural spot. But I don't think it's that easy. Although we got plenty of public reaction and it is great that so many people support it, that people understand that we need to save nature, the ecology - it must be part of our culture. "
