Grand Kyiv Ballet: Forest Song & Don Quixote - Review

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Fri 26 Jul 2024

The 26th of July saw the Ukrainian Grand Kyiv Ballet company make a stop in Adelaide as part of their Australian tour. This tour has been an exciting moment for a group that is currently displaced from their country of origin. The turmoil in Ukraine has been harsh on its inhabitants and many, the Grand Kyiv Ballet company included, have had to seek asylum. Being able to reunite as a group and go on tour is a big victory for this organisation. Despite everything, the company is still able to put on a stellar, first-class show.



This year’s production from the Grand Kyiv Ballet company is broken down into two acts, Forest Song and Don Quixote. The performance opens with Forest Song. A source of pride for this company as it is a Ukrainian play with Ukrainian music and Ukrainian costuming. The show has been lovingly pieced together to demonstrate some of the enchanting folklore which embodies Ukrainian culture. Bringing this mystical tale to life is Principal Soloist’s Marta Kaliandruk as Mavka and Daniil Kish as Lukash together they weave a captivating tale of love, betrayal and grief.

The chemistry between Kaliandruk and Kish brings life to the performance as you watch the two dancers move in rhythm with one another and exude the whimsy and flighty nature of this piece.

Together with Kseniia Dronova as Kylyna, Lukash’s wife, and Viktor Tomashek as the Spirit of Fire, the performers weave a tale of love which like many folk stories ends in tragedy. The company showcases its talent in the wedding of Lukash and Kylyna as all the performers put on a celebration which oozes the theme and mood of a traditional Ukrainian festival. It’s boisterous, joyous, and fantastical and celebrates the colour and frivolity of Ukraine and the Grand Kyiv Ballet company.

Following Forest Song is the more widely known Don Quixote. A classic amongst Ballet performances and that always remains fun no matter how many times you see it. In Don Quixote, our principal dancers are Viktor Tomashek as Basilio and Mie Nagasawa as Kitri.

Nagasawa is a source of delight for the Grand Kyiv Ballet company. Originally from Saitama, Japan, Nagasawa has been with the company since 2021 and was with them when the Russian invasion first began. Despite the turmoil, Nagasawa has stayed with the company and shows her unity with the people of Ukraine every night on stage. Her pas de deux with Tomashek has been described as awe-inspiring. Her performance in Don Quixote is flawless with her energy and exuberance shining through as Kitri.



Don Quixote itself has a higher energy and jovial vibe than the first act. The dancers reflect this change in their energy and expressions. It comes together to create a fun, slapstick feel. Zack Tidswell as Quixote and Vladyslav Yevtushenko as Sancho do excellently at exemplifying this effect. Don Quixote can be a very long story depending on how you tell it. Act 2 tells the story in 71 minutes. 20 minutes of that at the end is specialist performances from the soloists. So, they really tell the story of Don Quixote in 45 minutes. A lot of detail is cut in this rendition, but it still makes for an entertaining and engaging performance. It's here in Act 2 that the soloists are really given a moment to showcase their abilities. With stunning step after stunning step. It’s at this ending that the principal soloists really display their skill. This crescendo is finished as the audience is asked to stand for the Ukrainian national anthem.

The Grand Kyiv Ballet is nearing the end of its tour. If you live in NSW, they have 4 shows remaining in Wollongong and Dubbo. If you missed the show this time round, don’t fret. It has only been a year since the company’s last Australian tour and they are unlikely to stay away for long. See more information on the Grand Kyiv Ballet company here .

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