The Russian Ballet group performing in Milwaukee wants to 'dance for peace' amid the crisis in Ukraine

Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read
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The Russian Ballet Theatre features dancers from nearly a dozen countries. The independent group, which is coming to Milwaukee's Riverside Theatre, hopes the audience will support it as it dances for peace.
The Russian Ballet Theatre features dancers from nearly a dozen countries. The independent group, which is coming to Milwaukee's Riverside Theatre, hopes the audience will support it as it dances for peace.

The Russian Ballet Theatre is making its tour stop in Milwaukee on March 5 at the Riverside Theater as Russia's invasion of Ukraine affects the families of many dancers taking the stage.

The independent group, with no business ties to Russia, said its goal is to "dance for peace."

"We are against the war," said Gulya Hartwick, producer for the Russian Ballet Theatre. "We are for peace, and we dance for peace. We are living proof of how different nations can gather on one stage to do something beautiful instead of something hateful."

Hartwick said the group is a U.S. business with dancers from nearly a dozen countries. Eight dancers in the upcoming Milwaukee performance are from Ukraine, along with other dancers from Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Armenia, Poland and Slovenia.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine Feb. 24, the group has projected the words "We dance for peace" on its curtain before shows.

Russian Ballet Theatre will perform Swan Lake

The Russian Ballet Theatre gets its name from being a ballet school that focuses on techniques by Russian dancer Agrippina Vaganova. The group also performs Russian ballets, like "Swan Lake," which it plans to perform in Milwaukee this weekend.

Because the Vaganova technique is popular in Russia and other post-Soviet nations, most of Russian Ballet Theatre's members are from that area of the world.

"So many in our group have friends and family in Ukraine right now. We know how maddening and painful it is. Everyone is on their phones watching the news, speaking with their families and figuring out the best way to save them," Hartwick said. "For all of the sides it's very painful. You just want this to end."

She said because of the name, the dance group has gotten some questioning on social media.

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia had its tour canceled in the United Kingdom, according to the BBC. But unlike that Siberian group, the troupe coming to Milwaukee has no ties to Russian government.

"Unfortunately for the past week the comments have shifted from how beautiful the production is, to questioning what passport is in our dancers' purses," Hartwick said. "We do understand why it's happening. But the production itself it beautiful and the message is great. We don’t want any war, we want peace. We ask audiences to come and enjoy the show, and pray for everything to end soon."

Hartwick said that the actions of the Russian army and Russian President Vladimir Putin must be condemned, but not the art of Russian people.

"The culture is not responsible for the decisions of one crazy, insane person," Hartwick said.

Instead, Hartwick hopes that people come to support the dancers, who are "dancing with tears in their eyes."

For more information on the Russian Ballet Theatre's "Swan Lake" performance in Milwaukee, visit www.russianballettheatre.com/tickets.

Jordyn Noennig covers Wisconsin culture and lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram @JordynTaylor_n. Find her on Twitter @JordynTNoennig. Call her at 262-446-6601 or email Jordyn.Noennig@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Russian Ballet Theatre to perform Swan Lake for 2022 tour in Milwaukee