Victoria Glazunova, Guilherme Vicente, Polina Loshchylina and Kate Myklukha | Photo's: Altin Kaftira

Please help!

OUR ARTISTS WILL STAY ANOTHER SEASON WITH OUR COMPANY

Friday 24 February 2023 marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since the invasion, we have been able to give a home to nine performers thanks to your support! The singers and dancers will stay with our company for one more year and we are currently working on raising the final funds we need to finance their stay with us. This is where we need your help.

Donate here for artistic asylum

Artistic asylum

The many refugees included some talented singers and dancers. Fleeing a country where everything is being destroyed, they have the creative talent to present an alternative to all the violence. We offer performers affected by the violence in Ukraine what we term ‘artistic asylum’. Since March 2022, we have been able to give nine performers a safe space at Dutch National Opera & Ballet.

Dancers and singers

Dutch National Ballet welcomed Olga Smirnova, a principal with the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet, and Victor Caixeta, a rising star with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg. The Ukrainian Liza Gorbachova (Bolshoi Ballet) joined our corps de ballet. We also welcomed four young Ukrainian dancers to our Junior Company: Polina Loshchylina (National Opera of Ukraine), Kate Myklukha (National Opera of Ukraine), Guilherme Vicente (Mikhailovsky Theatre) and Victoria Glazunova (Bolshoi Ballet). Dutch National Opera Studio also created two extra places for the Ukrainian singers Maksym Nazarenko and Georgiy Derbas-Richter.

We need your help

Last year, we were able to create additional positions for the nine performers over and above the existing staffing plan. This was thanks to the very generous support of private individuals, funds and sponsors. Together, you raised an impressive 425.000 euros for these performers. That is amazing! We want to thank everyone who contributed for their support! These artists have been given a place in our house where they can train, develop as performers and focus on the future. What is more, we can offer them stability, security, support and the opportunity to make their dreams come true.

The singers and dancers will stay with our company for one more season and we are currently working on raising the final funds we need to finance their stay with us.

To do this, we still need a total of 260.000 euros. These are additional costs that are not covered by Dutch National Opera & Ballet’s current budget. By now we have already raised 190.000 euros and we are in the process of raising the last 70.000 euros. That means we need your support to keep helping these refugee performers. Together we can make it!

Your financial contributions will let us pay the wages and employer’s contributions, and offer the performers coaching and mental and physical support where necessary, as well as assistance in finding accommodation. With this support, they can continue to grow and develop! From the 2023/2024 season, we will be able to include the singers and dancers in the budget for Dutch National Opera & Ballet.

Donate here for artistic asylum

Welcomed with open arms

One year on, we are pleased to give you an update on the dancers and singers who were able to benefit from a safe new home thanks to the support of so many of you:

Olga Smirnova

Olga Smirnova had danced with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow since 2011. In March 2022, she left the ballet company and fled to the Netherlands because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Olga has danced various roles for Dutch National Ballet as a principal ballerina.

Photo: Olga Smirnova in Messa da Requiem | © Michel Schnater

Olga Smirnova

Olga Smirnova grew up in Saint Petersburg, where she studied at the Vaganova Academy. Shortly after graduating in 2011, she was taken on as a soloist for the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. In March 2022, she left the ballet company and fled to the Netherlands because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; her grandfather was a Ukrainian citizen. Thanks to your support, we were able to offer a home to this world-class star and a place as principal dancer at Dutch National Ballet (DNB). With DNB as her base, she can pursue her career and continue to perform internationally.

Performances

Her first performance in Amsterdam for DNB was on 16 April 2022 in Raymonda, when she danced the title role. In October, Olga danced in The Sleeping Beauty with DNB and in Hans van Manen’s Variations for Two Couples in New York, followed by a tour of the Netherlands. More performances of The Sleeping Beauty with Victor Caixeta followed in December. During the 2022 New Year’s Eve show by comedian and singer Claudia de Breij, Olga danced a specially created solo to music from Swan Lake. In 2023, Olga performed in Messa da Requiem and at the end of February she is dancing in the premiere of the new production of La Bayadère with Balletto dell’Opera di Roma. Olga will also feature in some of DNB’s performances of Swan Lake. Olga will continue to dance in much of DNB’s programme this season. As of the 2023–2024 season, her position can be included in the budget for Dutch National Opera & Ballet.

Victor Caxeita

Victor had danced with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg since 2017. Victor was unable to stay on because of the war and he was forced to leave Saint Petersburg. Thanks to your support, he was able to join DNB and develop his ambitions and talents further. This past season, he has danced in various productions including The Sleeping Beauty and Messa da Requiem.

Photo: Victor Caxeita in The Sleeping Beauty | © Marc Haegeman

Victor Caixeta

Victor Caixeta was born in Uberlândia in Brazil. He trained as a dancer at the Staatliche Ballettschule Berlin, graduating in 2017. That same year, he was taken on by the Mariinsky Ballet company in Saint Petersburg. In 2019, he was promoted to soloist. But Victor was unable to stay on because of the war and he was forced to leave Saint Petersburg. Thanks to your support, he was able to join DNB and develop his ambitions and talents further. In the words of Ted Brandsen, Dutch National Ballet’s artistic director, “Victor is a hugely talented and charismatic dancer and we’re delighted to welcome him to Dutch National Ballet.”

Performances

Victor is a wonderful dancer and has become an indispensable member of the company. Sadly, he injured his back in October 2022 and had to spend two months recuperating. That fortunately went well and we were able to enjoy him dancing with Olga last autumn in The Sleeping Beauty. He also danced a wonderful pas de deux from The Nutcracker with Olga in February to mark the fiftieth Prix de Lausanne with Jean-Christophe Maillot as the Jury President. In February, he danced in Messa da Requiem. In the year ahead he will feature in various performances of Swan Lake by DNB. Victor will also stay with DNB for the rest of the season and will be included in the budget for Dutch National Opera & Ballet as of the 2023/2024 season.

Liza Gorbachova

In 2020, Liza was selected for the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. When the war broke out, Liza was unable to stay in Moscow and she fled to the Netherlands, where DNB offered her a place. She joined the corps de ballet, dancing in The Sleeping Beauty and other productions.

Liza Gorbachova

Liza Gorbachova took ballet lessons at the ballet school in Lviv from the age of four. She started training as a professional ballerina in 2014 at the State Ballet School in Kyiv. She continued her training at the Ballettakademie der Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. In 2020 she joined the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.

When the war broke out, Liza was unable to stay in Moscow and she fled to the Netherlands, where DNB offered her a place. She joined the corps de ballet, dancing in The Sleeping Beauty and other productions. In the next while, she will be dancing in Swan Lake where she will make good use of her classical training. Liza will definitely be able to stay on with DNB until June 2024.

Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company

“For Kate, Victoria and Polina, it is of course extremely complicated, as many of their family members are still living in Ukraine. However, they have all received a warm welcome from the other Junior Company dancers and are fully integrated in the group. They all say that ‘doing what they love’ really helps!” says Ernst Meisner, choreographer and artistic coordinator of the Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company.

Polina Loshchylina

Last season, we welcomed Polina to the Junior Company, where she is learning lots of new techniques alongside her classical training. For instance, she was cast for the new work by Joshua Jonker, ‘Remembrance’, in Ballet Bubbles.

Polina Loshchylina

Polina Loshchylina was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and trained on the dancers’ course at the Kyiv State Ballet School. She went on to join the National Opera of Ukraine, where she soon took part in several performances.

Last season, we welcomed Polina to the Junior Company (a hotbed for young talent), where she is learning lots of new techniques alongside her classical training. For instance, she was cast for the new work by Joshua Jonker, ‘Remembrance’, in Ballet Bubbles, which gave her plenty of opportunity to grow. Next season, Polina will keep dancing with the Junior Company. The following step in her career will be sought collectively.

Victoria Glazunova

Victoria started with the Junior Company in March 2022, after fleeing Ukraine. She now feels completely at home with Dutch National Ballet, and stood out in the rehearsals of Dorian for her personality and creative input.

Foto: Victoria Glazunova in Nosotros - Ballet Bubbles | © Altin Kaftira

Victoria Glazunova

Victoria Glazunova trained at the Lviv Ballet School, the Kiev Choreographic College “Kiyanochka” and the Royal Ballet School in London. She went on to join the Young Ballet Program at the Bolshoi Theatre, where she was later offered a contract.

She started with the Junior Company in March 2022, after fleeing Ukraine. She now feels completely at home with Dutch National Ballet, and stood out in the rehearsals of Dorian for her personality and creative input. She has also worked well in the corps de ballet in performances of The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, for example. Next season, Victoria will be joining the main company.

Kate Myklukha

In 2021, Kate joined the company of the National Opera of Ukraine, where she danced in productions like Swan Lake, Giselle and Raymonda. Kate fled Ukraine when the war broke out and, thanks to your support, found a place with the Junior Company. She is a beautiful and very talented dancer.

Kate Myklukha

Kate Myklukha discovered her passion for dancing in a roundabout way. When she was three, she started figure skating, but then she went to the Kyiv Choreographic College “Kiyanochka”, where she realised that her heart lay in ballet. At the age of nine, she joined the Kyiv State Ballet School. In 2021, Kate joined the company of the National Opera of Ukraine, where she danced in productions like Swan Lake, Giselle and Raymonda.

Kate fled Ukraine when the war broke out and, thanks to your support, found a place with the Junior Company. She is a beautiful and very talented dancer. Kate has decided to return in the 2023/2024 season to the National Opera of Ukraine, where she can continue to fulfil her ambitions closer to her family.

Guilherme Vicente

In 2018, he moved to Amsterdam to continue his training at the Dutch National Ballet Academy, where he graduated in 2021 from the class of Grigori Tchitcherine. In the same year, Guilherme joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre, in St Petersburg, as a coryphee. Guilherme fled St Petersburg to come to the Netherlands, joining the Junior Company in March 2022.

Guilherme Vicente

Guilherme Vicente was born in Portugal and started his training at the National Conservatoire of Lisbon. In 2018, he moved to Amsterdam, continuing his training at the Dutch National Ballet Academy, where he graduated in 2021 from the class of Grigori Tchitcherine. In the same year, Guilherme joined the Mikhailovsky Theatre, in St Petersburg, as a coryphee, where he danced the role of the ‘Golden Prince’ in The Sleeping Beauty and the four waltz couples in Nutcracker, and performed in Swan Lake.

Guilherme joined the Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company in March 2022, as it was not safe for him to stay in Russia. After the season, Guilherme decided to return to the Mikhailovsky Theatre, in St. Petersburg, where he is now dancing.

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. Through your contributions, we have been able to support two singers over the past year:

Georgiy Derbas-Richter

The Ukrainian baritone Georgiy 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. 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 last autumn he performed Curio in Handel’s Giulio Cesare.

Foto: Georgiy Derbas-Richter tijdens presentatie DNO seizoen 2022-2023

Georgiy Derbas-Richter

The Ukrainian baritone Georgiy Derbas-Richter studied at the Conservatoire 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. Thanks to the funds raised, he was able to join the Opera Studio earlier. He used the first months to prepare and to learn as much as possible, so that he could officially join the Opera Studio after the summer.

His first role on the big stage was Morales in George Bizet’s Carmen, and last autumn he performed Curio in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. In the short time that Georgiy has been here, he has sung the aria ‘Come Paride Vezzoso’ from Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, at the International Young Patrons Gala, and performed the role of Second Witch in Dido and Aeneas – an opera by Henry Purcell, which was performed at Paradiso by Dutch National Opera Studio and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. Since arriving here, he has developed enormously, and he has a wonderful voice. Georgiy will complete his training with the Opera Studio in 2024.

Maksym Nazarenko

Maksym 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, and that went so well that he was given a job there in January 2023!

Foto: Maksym Nazarenko tijdens presentatie DNO seizoen 2022-2023

Maksym Nazarenko

The baritone Maksym Nazarenko grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine, and trained at the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music (Conservatoire of Kyiv). From 2020 to 2022, he was a member of Dutch National Opera Studio. The war in Ukraine made it impossible for Maksym to return home after his training with the Opera Studio. Fortunately, the funds raised enabled his contract with Dutch National Opera & Ballet to be renewed.

In the spring of 2022, he got the opportunity to sing with the Chorus in the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. That went so well on both sides that in January 2023 he was given a job with the Chorus, led by Edward Ananian-Cooper, where he is really enjoying himself and has the opportunity to develop further and learn with Dutch National Opera & Ballet. Maksym will anyway keep singing with the Chorus until December 2023. He will soon be performing with the Chorus in Alexander Raskatov’s Animal Farm, at the Opera Forward Festival in March, and then in Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss, in April and May.

We refuse to let this war plant obstacles in these artists’ paths. Will you help us?