The Odesa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet has been trying to fight this fake troupe for six months.

In Europe, in particular France, a ballet troupe is touring, posing as artists of the Odesa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

On the troupe’s posters are the words “Ukrainian National Ballet of Odessa”, in the repertoire is Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”. Odesa “Operny” accuses the troupe of illegal use of the name, photos and video materials, and the Ministry of Culture condemns it for presenting Ukraine through Russian ballet, according to the TSN story.

As it turned out, the ballet troupe is really from Odessa. According to the organizers, it includes only Ukrainians and a few Czechs. Previously, the organization that tours as the “National Ballet” was called LLC “Theatre of Russian Classical Ballet”, after 2017 – “Theatre of Classical and Contemporary Ballet”. Only the troupe’s repertoire remained Russian.

The Odesa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet emphasizes that the theft of the name threatens them with reputational losses. They also say that they have been trying to fight this troupe for six months, turning to French and Irish promoters, but in response they hear only threats.

“How can you call yourself the National Ballet of Odesa, you have to earn it through many years of work so that the Ministry grants this national status. And our official correspondence ended with threats from their side. I said, why are you contacting the organizers of the concerts, I will contact my representatives in Odesa there, To understand with you: for the Ukrainian ballet, such name theft is a considerable loss of reputation for the future, because they will come now, there is a small troupe, some small scenery is painted, and they pretend to be the National Theater and the National Art of Ballet… Well, what level is this , well, with what can it be compared, you understand”, says the conductor of the National Opera and Ballet Theater Ihor Chernetsky.

Meanwhile, the fake troupe justifies itself that it uses photos and videos from the Odesa “Opernay” allegedly only this season – for greater commercial success.

“The impresario decided that the products under this brand under this name will sell very well,” says the troupe’s art director Oleksandr Fedorina.

Ukrainian ballet during a full-scale war

In Europe, there is a huge demand for Ukrainian ballet. Ukrainian artists (and those who pretend to be them) ensure a full house. Meanwhile, many Ukrainian artists have long since exchanged pointe shoes for a cap and are defending our country from the Russian occupier.

In November, Vadym Khupianets, a 26-year-old ballet dancer of the National Operetta of Ukraine, died in heavy fighting near Bakhmut. The guy from Donetsk devoted his whole life to operetta – his first employment book was here and he returned here after completing his military service. With the beginning of a full-scale war, he went to the front as a volunteer.

In September, Oleksandr Shapoval, Honored Artist of Ukraine, soloist of the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, died in the battle near Maiorsk, Donetsk region.