Alex Stoianov is the Principal Dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine and serves as the Artistic Director of the Grand Kyiv Ballet. Born and raised in Yalta, a small city in Crimea in southern Ukraine, Alex first became fascinated with dance at eleven years old when he saw ballroom dancers on the television one night. In awe of the beauty - from the movements to the costumes to the people – he asked his mother if he could take classes himself. Within six months, he had already received praise from audience members and had won several awards. For one night only on November 24th, The Grand Kyiv Ballet will be showcasing a performance of The Nutcracker at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House here in Nashville.
Knowing that dance was in his blood from an early age, Alex’s parents sent him to Kyiv, where he could learn from the best at the Kyiv State Choreographic College. This journey led him to meet his wife, Kateryna Kukhar - who is also a professional dancer and has since had a successful career at the renowned National Opera of Ukraine.
Their story is one that symbolizes inspiration and resilience. Alex recalls feelings of “love at first sight” the moment he laid eyes on Kateryna. They've been married for sixteen years, and the pair currently reside in Seattle - their temporary home - due to the conflict in Ukraine. When the war first erupted, they were in France preparing for their final performance in Menton, continents away from their two children. Just prior, they had rehearsed Giselle together, a poignant moment amidst the turmoil unfolding back home. Originally planning to return to Kyiv, their lives were upended when they received news at 5 a.m. of the war's outbreak and bombings.
With the help of friends and family, they worked tirelessly to evacuate their children from Ukraine. Regrettably, not all their relatives could be relocated to a fully secure location, as Kateryna's parents bravely chose to remain in Kyiv, demonstrating unwavering strength in the face of adversity. Fortunately, they were reunited with their loved ones three days later, but this life-altering experience led to a profound change in the Grand Kyiv Ballet's mission. The couple works endlessly to give back to their community in Ukraine. Kyiv State Choreographic College became a full circle, as he and Kateryna are currently conducting renovations and restoring the children’s dormitory.
“This school is my alma mater… also my wife’s," Alex shares. "She started managing this college in pandemic times... It was a difficult time for all ballroom dancers. After the pandemic, we had a great year before my wife started remodeling the ballet college. The building was old and had been running for eighty years under bad conditions. During this time, the war started and all money that was invested was sent to our military. After this, we tried to do it all on our own.”
More than 200 ballet dancers, both students and artists, evacuated Ukraine during the unrest. Alex has since started four ballet companies to bring work to many of those dancers and company members displaced from Ukraine. Now taking their ballet to over 140 cities nationwide, Alex shares they have received several letters from folks all around the country thanking them for bringing the art of ballroom dance to their small city, as it is something we are not always exposed to here in the States. Feedback like this fuels Alex and reminds him of the importance of bringing beautiful art and emotion to everyone.
“It's still a very difficult time – not like two years ago when the war started – but all of us understand we need to move forward and give back to our children and their future,” Alex says. “Our city is destroyed, our people died, but they never destroyed our culture. That’s why we try to show our beautiful culture and ballet all around the world.”
Grand Kyiv Ballet is proud to announce that a portion of the proceeds from this event will be directed towards the renovation efforts of the Kyiv State Choreographic College in Kyiv. By attending the performance, audiences not only bear witness to a captivating ballet but also contribute to the preservation and enhancement of this esteemed institution.
"They never destroyed our culture. That’s why we try to show our beautiful culture and ballet all around the world.”