National Opera’s principal dancer Serhiy Kryvonos was deprived of the deferment of mobilisation due to his performance in Swan Lake, directed by Russian dancer Lev Ivanov, in which the artist took part while travelling abroad with his wife.
As previously reported by Ukrayinska Pravda (UP), prima ballerina of the National Opera of Ukraine Nataliya Matsak and principal Serhiy Kryvonos performed abroad in the ballet Swan Lake, which is touring Europe as part of the United European Ballet.
The artists’ participation became known after videos were posted on social media by audience members and later identified by ballerina Viktoriya Zvarych. According to her, Matsak and Kryvonos were on vacation at their own expense and joined the touring project.
The Ministry of Culture confirmed the artists’ participation in the performances and noted that this constituted the promotion of Russian cultural products, which contradicts the position of the National Opera of Ukraine regarding the complete rejection of works by Russian composers after 24 February 2022.
The Ministry of Culture emphasised that, in the context of the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression, the participation of Ukrainian artists in productions by Russian authors is unacceptable and is considered a violation of current legislation and professional principles.
At the same time, according to Viktoriya Zvarych, Nataliya Matsak denied her participation in the performance in private communication, stating that the video had allegedly been created using artificial intelligence. In this regard, Zvarych submitted a statement to the Ministry of Culture.
In response to a request from LB.ua, the National Opera reported the following:
“Ballet artists of the National Opera of Ukraine Nataliya Matsak and Serhiy Kryvonos were granted leave on the basis of their statements in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation. The theatre was not aware of their plans, in particular regarding their participation in performances of Russian classical works, and did not receive any information on this matter from them or from other sources. Later, social media revealed their participation in the ballet Swan Lake, which, of course, caused outrage, as it violates corporate ethics and the collective decision not to participate in performances by Russian authors. In view of the above, Serhiy Kryvonos’s booking was cancelled. Based on the results of an internal investigation, appropriate decisions will be made in accordance with current Ukrainian legislation after their holidays have ended.
The touring version of Swan Lake by the production company Colossart Production contains minimal public information about the cast.”