Under the direction of prima ballerina Kateryna Kukhar, students from the Choreographic College concluded their international tour with the legendary ballet “Forest Song,” performing in Bratislava and Reykjavík. This project marked the first foreign presentation of Ukrainian classical ballet, with technical arrangements by college students, contributing to the promotion of Ukrainian culture on the global stage. The performances of the young artists received positive reviews and heartfelt applause from the audience.
The college director, Kateryna Kukhar, emphasized that the tour helps disseminate Ukrainian art worldwide, with feedback from diverse nationalities affirming the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy. The ballet is based on Lesia Ukrainka’s drama-fairytale with music composed by Mykhailo Skorulskyi and modern choreography by Oleksii Kovalenko, inspired by Vakhtang Vronskyi’s staging. One of the highlights of the performance is the inclusion of “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych, which became one of the most significant musical moments.
Nonetheless, the tour faced logistical challenges, notably the loss of stage luggage en route to Iceland, resulting in the loss of costumes, sets, props, and artists’ personal belongings. The search for the luggage lasted over two days and was eventually recovered just hours before the dress rehearsal. Ukrainian diplomats, embassies, representatives of the Icelandic theater, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland were involved in resolving the situation. Thanks to these efforts, the performance took place successfully, and the audience highly appreciated the execution.
Kateryna Kukhar emphasized that the tour holds significance for cultural diplomacy, helping present Ukraine to the world through its cultural heritage, with the ballet “Forest Song” as a prominent symbol of Ukrainian culture.
