Ukrainian ballet dancer set to perform with war on top of mind

TAMPA, Fla. – The 23rd annual Youth America Grand Prix dance competition is underway in Tampa at the Straz Center for Performing Arts and there’s one dancer performing at the main event who has a close tie to Ukraine.

Maievskyi Vsevolod is from Kyiv. It was there he learned the basics of ballet. “I’m born in Ukraine in Kyiv and I graduate in Kyiv Ballet School,” he said.

Vsevolod said until three weeks ago, his family was still living in Kyiv.

The 6-foot-2 ballet star has found a way to remain graceful on the dance floor while also worrying about his home country that’s in the middle of a war.

“I don’t have another choice. Because I want to help my family and I have to do this,” he said. “It’s difficult too, because in my mind it’s still like crazy and it’s painful. Because I have many friends from Russia. My grandmother is from Russia, but I’m born in Kyiv and also I have many friends from Ukraine.”

He also dances for a Russian dance company. It’s a job that came about after he attended a top dance school in New York that the Youth America Grand Prix competition helped pay for.

Read more @ https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/04/17/ukrainian-ballet-dancer-set-to-perform-with-the-war-top-of-mind