Former Royal Ballet stars and impresarios Ivan Putrov (Ukraine) and Alina Cojocaru (Romania) have today announced ‘Dance for Ukraine,’ a special benefit gala to be held at the London Coliseum on Saturday 19 March 2022 to raise funds for people in need in Ukraine.
Proceeds from the event will go to Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Produced by the dance charity Inspiration in Motion, the evening features artists from The Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and English National Ballet, including Marianela Nuñez (Argentina), Mathieu Ganio (France), Federico Bonelli (Italy), Francesco Gabriele Frola (Italy), Fumi Kaneko (Japan), Isaac Hernández (Mexico), Alina Cojocaru (Romania), Natalia Osipova (Russia), Reece Clarke (UK), Katja Khaniukova (Ukraine), and Emma Hawes (USA).
The full line-up and repertoire will be announced in due course.
All the participating dancers have donated their services. The English National Opera has waived its rental fee for the London Coliseum. The ENO Orchestra, Chorus and friends have volunteered to support the evening musically.
Alina Cojocaru and Ivan Putrov trained together in Kyiv as young students before studying at London’s Royal Ballet School and entering The Royal Ballet, becoming amongst the youngest principal dancers throughout the Company’s history. With their dance journey originating in Kyiv, both artists wanted to show their love, admiration and support for friends and family by reaching out to their colleagues to dance to show support and raise funds for the victims of this terrifying conflict.
