A safe home
In the spring of 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Artists from both countries had to leave their homes, due to the dangerous situation or because they disapproved of the invasion. Thanks to the financial support from funds and from private individuals, Dutch National Opera & Ballet has been able to create extra places in order to receive these artists into our company.
Thank you
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to facilitating a new safe home for these artists. It has been vitally important to them. We would like to update you on these talents, who – thanks to the ‘artistic asylum’ offered to them by our different companies – have not only been able to continue their training and career, but have become a valuable and essential part of these companies.
Dutch National Ballet
Het Nationale Ballet
Olga Smirnova
Olga grew up in St Petersburg, where she trained at the Vaganova Academy. Soon after graduating, in 2011, she joined the Bolshoi Ballet, in Moscow, as a soloist. In March 2022, Olga was forced to decide to leave her home country – fiercely opposed to the invasion. She fled to the Netherlands, where she joined Dutch National Ballet as a principal dancer. Since then, she has danced many main roles in both the classical and modern repertoire, and in 2022 she was voted ‘dancer of the year’ by the leading magazine Dance Europe.
Photo: Olga Smirnova in Messa da Requiem | © Michel Schnater
Victor Caxeita
Victor was born in Uberlândia, in Brazil. From 2017, he danced with the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, but had to leave Russia because of the war. Thanks to your support, he was able to join Dutch National Ballet as a soloist. His well-deserved promotion to principal followed later, in April 2023, straight after his performance of the role of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.
Photo: Victor Caxeita in The Sleeping Beauty | © Marc Haegeman
Liza Gorbachova
The Ukrainian dancer Liza joined the Bolshoi Ballet, in Moscow, in 2020. When the war broke out, Liza fled to the Netherlands, where Dutch National Ballet was able to receive her. She joined the corps de ballet and has already danced various roles in full-length ballets like The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
Junior Company
The Junior Company is Dutch National Ballet’s talent development programme. The company bridges the gap between training and professional practice and gives talented young dancers a wonderful opportunity to prepare for a career with Dutch National Ballet or another leading international ballet company. Its artistic coordinator is choreographer Ernst Meisner.
Polina Loshchylina
Polina was born in Kyiv and, after her training, she joined the ballet company of the National Opera of Ukraine. In March 2022, the financial contributions enabled extra places to be created in the Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company, so that Polina could join this talent development programme. Alongside her classical training, she is learning many new techniques with the company and has already performed in several productions.
Victoria Glazunova
The Ukrainian dancer Victoria had just been offered a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet, in Russia, when the war broke out. So Victoria, too, had to flee, and she started with the Junior Company in March 2022. Following a successful year with this company, she moved up to Dutch National Ballet as an élève in the 2023/2024 season. Especially during the rehearsals for Dorian, a collaboration between the Junior Company and ISH Dance Collective, Victoria stood out for her personality and creative input.
Photo: Victoria Glazunova in nosotros - Ballet Bubbles | © Altin Kaftira
Kate Myklukha
In 2021, Kate joined the ballet company of the National Opera of Ukraine. Kate fled Ukraine when the war broke out and, thanks to your support, she found a place with the Junior Company. She is a beautiful and very talented dancer. After the 2022-2023 season, Kate took the difficult decision to return to the National Opera of Ukraine, where she will continue to fulfil her ambitions while being closer to her family.
Guilherme Vicente
Born in Portugal, Guilherme started his ballet training at the National Conservatory of Lisbon. In 2021, he joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg as a coryphée, but fled to the Netherlands in March 2022, where he was able to join the Junior Company. After the 2022-2023 season, Guilherme decided to return to the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg, where he is now dancing with great success.
Dutch National Opera Studio
Dutch National Opera Studio is a two-year programme, in which young singers and répétiteurs are groomed for an international opera career. The Opera Studio combines workshops and coaching with a wide range of professional experiences. The artistic leader is the internationally renowned soprano Rosemary Joshua.
Georgiy Derbas-Richter
The Ukrainian baritone Georgiy trained at the Conservatory of Kyiv and came to the Netherlands in the spring of 2022 to audition for Dutch National Opera Studio. When war broke out in his home country, he could no longer return to Kyiv, but thanks to the funds raised, he was able to join the Opera Studio earlier. His first role on the big stage was Morales in George Bizet’s Carmen, and he has also performed in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. In the 2023-2024 season, Georgiy will complete his second year of training with Dutch National Opera Studio.
Maksym Nazarenko
Maksym (baritone) grew up in Kyiv and trained there at the Conservatory, following which he started with Dutch National Opera Studio in 2020. The war in Ukraine made it impossible for Maksym to return home after his training. He was given the opportunity to sing in the Chorus of Dutch National Opera, which was so successful that he was given a permanent position in January 2023.
