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Macaulay posted another group of interesting notices on IG (the numbers refer to the included images): 1, 2, 3. Denis Matvienko @matvienko_ballet_master , on the staff of the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg, speaks up about the appalling situation in Russia, the country he and his family have now suddenly left, traumatised by the headlong and ruinous rush into war undertaken by the despotic neo-Stalinist Putin. Every congratulation to the courage shown here by Matvienko; every hope that he, like so many newly displaced people, can find work and home in the West. Welcome to the West, Denis Matvienko! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbdi7-sgRK0/ 1, 2, 3. I am amazed and impressed to find that one of the best sources of imagery and information about the many desperate facets of the situation in Ukraine today is “Elle Ukraine” @elle_ukraine . It’s officially a magazine or media outlet for fashion and beauty; but there’s nothing escapist about it’s coverage of events in recent weeks Two of the best Ukrainian dance people to follow just now, both in the West but both posting many times a day for their homeland, are Katja Khaniukova (soloist with English National Ballet) @khaniukova and Ana Sofia Scheller @la_scheller (freelance ballerina who has come to call Kyiv her home in recent years). Both of them, I realised today, follow “Elle Ukraine”; I see why. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdnTeZA-rR/ In the latest episode of the Conversations on Dance podcast - at least the eighth episode to which I’ve contributed - I speak to my friends Rebecca King Ferraro and Michael Sean Breeden about the response of figures in the worlds of the performing arts. I especially refer to Alexei Ratmansky @alexeiratmansky , to Lourdes Lopez @lourdesmcb , to Vladimir Shklyarov @vladimir_shklyarov , to Elena Kovalskaya, to Marina Harss @marina.harss , to Mikhail Baryshnikov, to Valery Gergiev, to Anna Netrebko, to Sergei Polunin, to Olga Smirnova @leka.spb.ballet , to Ana Sophia Scheller @la_scheller , to Katja Khaniukova @khaniukova . The conversation was recorded on Friday 18 March. Released now, it still holds true. Please listen; please do all you can to help the response of the West to this tragic and traumatic situation. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdXPOtAAzw/ EDIT: Here's the Conversations on Dance podcast link: The dance world’s reaction to the Russian-Ukraine war with Alastair Macaulay https://conversationsondancepod.com/2022/03/23/277-the-dance-worlds-reaction-to-the-russian-ukraine-war-with-alastair-macaulay/

Are you going, Quiggin? Please report back if you do. For the record (since these web pages are eventually removed): 2022 Season Gala I. Excerpt from MAGRITTOMANIA Composer: Yuri Krasavin Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Scenic & Costume Design: Thyra Hartshorn Lighting Design: Kevin Connaughton MAX CAUTHORN, STEVEN MORSE, HENRY SIDFORD II. Pas de Deux from WOODEN DIMES Composer: James M. Stephenson Choreographer: Danielle Rowe Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury Scenic Properties Design: Alexander V. Nichols Lighting Design: Jim French SARAH VAN PATTEN, LUKE INGHAM III. DRUM ROLL, PLEASE! (World Premiere) Composer: Jacques Offenbach Choreographer: Myles Thatcher Costume Design: Susan Roemer Lighting Design: Jim French DORES ANDRÉ, ULRIK BIRKKJAER IV. BLOOM Composer: Caroline Shaw Choreographer: Justin Peck Costume Design: Reid Bartelme & Harriet Jung Lighting Design: Brandon Stirling Baker SASHA DE SOLA, JOSEPH WALSH Cordula Merks, Violin I Ani Bukujian, Violin II Yi Zhou, Viola Eric Sung, Cello V. Pas de Deux from DON QUIXOTE, Act III Composer: Ludwig Minkus Choreographer: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson & Yuri Possokhov Original Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls WONA PARK, ANGELO GRECO VI. THE RISING (World Premiere) Composer: Polina Nazaykinskaya Choreographer: Yuri Possokhov Costume Design: Mark Zappone Lighting Design: Jim French FRANCES CHUNG Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Gabriela Gonzalez, Maggie Weirich Estéban Cuadrado, Joshua Jack Price, Nathaniel Remez, John-Paul Simoens VII. LE RÉVEIL DE FLORE (World Premiere) Composer: Riccardo Drigo Choreographer: Alexei Ratmansky Costume Design: Holly Hynes Lighting Design: Jim French MISA KURANAGA, WEI WANG ISABELLA DEVIVO, BENJAMIN FREEMANTLE VIII. Pas de Deux from SWAN LAKE, Act II Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson after Lev Ivanov Costume Design: Jonathan Fensom Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton YUAN YUAN TAN, TIIT HELIMETS Cordula Merks, Violin Eric Sung, Cello IX. Third Movement and Finale from PRISM Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design: Mark Stanley ESTEBAN HERNANDEZ NORIKA MATSUYAMA, MAX CAUTHORN, CAVAN CONLEY SASHA MUKHAMEDOV, LUKE INGHAM Luca Ferrò, Joshua Jack Price, Jacob Seltzer Alexis Aiudi, Olivia Brothers, Thamires Chuvas, SunMin Lee, Carmela Mayo, Tyla Steinbach Kamryn Baldwin, Samantha Bristow, Anatalia Hordov, Elizabeth Mateer, Swane Messaoudi, Pemberley Ann Olson, Maggie Weirich Sean Bennett, Rubén Cítores, Estéban Cuadrado, Nathaniel Remez, Alexander Reneff-Olson, John-Paul Simoens, Mingxuan Wang Roby Bogas, Piano

Which points to their weakness - it's easy enough for the Russian government to identify VPN users and have them arrested on some trumped-up charge. So its a risk.

In the video that I linked to earlier (above), Eli explains that the younger Russians use VPN to access outside, unapproved content. The younger generation is naturally more tech savvy than the older generation. But they are taking a risk to use VPN to bypass the government-approved Internet experience. I think she exaggerates in implying that "all the Russians" are doing this. I would be willing to bet that it is mainly the young population of the large cities that do such things. Here is the part of the video where she mentions VPN use specifically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4EA8VSZdZ8&t=163s

Here's a fun little video from SFB: 👏👏👏 to the 2nd graders of @SunsetSFUSD for their movement, creativity, and expressiveness in @SFBallet’s Dance in Schools and Communities winter residency with Teaching Artists @OmarLedezmaJr and @PhoeniciaPettyjohn! https://www.instagram.com/p/CbYvqwfJgn5/

I went back and checked her age and I stand corrected. The pandemic period trips me up continually - I keep feeling like everything has stood still for 2 years, but it has still been 2 years. Instead, she's a young ballerina living in an insulated world. That's the sad truth of that life, as many dancers have stated. But in any case, any attempt to whitewash the events in Ukraine are going to receive heavy criticism online. As long as MK remains on social media she's going to get an earful. EDIT: Imo, there are no reasons which can make an illegal invasion, and continued shooting and bombardment, an acceptable action. The Russian military simply shouldn't be in Ukraine. And the idea that only people who have an extensive knowledge of Russian history and politics have earned the right to say something about this invasion is simply ludicrous. I'm instantly reminded of Misha Katsurin, living in Ukraine, who called up his father in Russia to warn him that his young family was in danger and close to evacuating, and Putin needed to be stopped - and all he heard back was denial that there was even a problem. His father told him that the Russians were simply removing Nazis from power and he was in no danger - the Russians were there to help(!) and were distributing food to the Ukrainians. The older Russian simply denied his son's actual experiences on the ground in Ukraine. I think MK is simply parroting that same line of propaganda.

[For the record] IG Comment: And you lead the Bolshoi when Russia was invading Georgia? And you lead the Bolshoi and didn’t get rid of Blackface? And you continued to work in Russia even after the annexation of Crimea fully knowing everyone’s politics? You also accepted the blood money of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky. Ratmanksy reply: 1. I left Bolshoi at the end of 2008 right after the invasion of Georgia 2. I got rid of the Blackface in my production of Le Corsaire at the Bolshoi 3. I never supported the annexation of the Crimea. But yes, I wish I understood better what has happened back then. 4. I have asked both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky to suspend my repertory. On the same posting, there's also some disparaging comments about Maria Khoreva's postings, but Khoreva, imo, is too young to understand much about the world, and certainly about military invasions. So even if she makes a blatantly ignorant comment, as a relative 'youth', she can still be forgiven her ignorance. But someone twice her age I'm not going to give a pass to. IG Comment: She left a note on YouTube, not sure if it’s still there. In short, she said ballet shouldn’t be linked politics, and others do not have the right to judge or comment on this “military action” because we know nothing about Russia, political and historical. It is very wrong for us to leave such irresponsible comments. She wrote this note to notify her YouTube viewers that comments supporting 🇺🇦 will be deleted unmercifully (unmercifully is the exact word used by her)

This is Ratmanksy's crucial point for me: "These people have made a political statement publicly supporting their President's unlawful actions. They are playing politics and therefore should be held responsible or at least asked to clarify their position today." And I basically agree with him. How ignorant or how innocent could a person be to assume that an annexation of Crimea would be a bloodless act? It just defies the imagination. Perhaps many of these people thought that signing a letter of support was merely an act of rah-rah patriotism, necessary to keep in the government's good graces, but lending one's support to an illegal military action* is going to have consequences. And should. * It violates the Charter of the United Nations, and constitutes a crime of aggression in international criminal law. "The invasion has also been called unlawful under some countries' domestic criminal codes—including those of Ukraine and Russia."

Joe Walsh uploaded a kind of 2022 season commemorative post with some fun photos: Mid season drop. It’s been an incredible return to form for all of SFB, but I have to say it’s really turned into a Wona Park Appreciation season for me of late. Saving the day on multiple fronts. Wona Park… destroyer of fans, technical feats, and all that might stand in her way on her path to perfection. Whether it’s as a Sylph or a Kitri, you push me to be a better dancer and artist everyday!!! Not to mention helping me remember when to go on stage when we have only rehearsed twice before a show. We also found out we are capable of doing Don Q with no warm up. Seriously though, we were back first with Nutcracker, and after a short stint away recovering @franadian is BAcK! I watched her in Seasons last night…. Insane, can’t wait for Swan Lake. We finally premiered the 2 + year old ballet in waiting by @cathymarston Mrs. Robinson. Thank you to the moon @sarah.vanpatten and @madisonkeesler for the years of work. We had some In the Night(s) (we worked hard for it @lizzypowell222 ) , Blake Works (thank you @juliarowekim and @wonapark ), Symphony in C ( thanks @isabelladevivo and @doresandre 🧨🧨🧨) third movement firecrackers. But where would We be without @feldiazinsane in the wings coaching us every inch of the way? Or my dressing room mates @_angelogreco_ and @luke_ingham ? It’s been an incredibly challenging return to stage, but I can’t think of a group to surround me more capable of the challenge than all y’all. If you haven’t been, come join us for the second half, we are just getting started…. Lol. @sfballet gala this Thursday, I’m dancing @justin_peck ‘s Bloom with @sashadesola !!! And then so much more. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbWo6moue3p/

Spiraling Sam on Sasha De Sola's fouettes: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbYakz6jxcF/ Super Sashita in motion: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbVw2kHljrI/

For people wanting to know a bit more about how life has changed in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, this video might be a good starting point: Eli from Russia Our life in Russia under sanctions | Prices in the shopping mall, Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4EA8VSZdZ8

I agree that this event is an obvious opportunity to raise funds worldwide, rather than only locally, if they simply stream the event with clear information about where to donate. Various YouTube channels, for example, solicit for funds during and after live broadcasts.

From the NY Times: As Big Shows of Russian Art End in Europe, Some Wonder What’s Next Museums in London and Paris are grappling with questions about how to get art back to Russia, and whether the works will ever be seen again in Europe. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/21/arts/design/europe-russian-art-museums.html "As the war in Ukraine continues, museums across Europe are having to grapple with a range of questions — logistical, moral and diplomatic — about how they should deal with their Russian counterparts. That includes working out how to safely return artworks, but also what to do with future exhibitions that are meant to involve Russian loans."

All good points, Drew. I'll just point out that the closer one is to the center of the crisis, the more emotional one gets. The most "reasonable" sounding people are always the ones well outside the war zone. Both President Zelensky and Ratmanksy are going to be more worked up and unforgiving of the opposition than, say, Macaulay because it is their friends, family and fellow countryman whose lives are being threatened (or taken) on an hourly basis. The Ukrainians simply don't have time for changing Russian "hearts and minds", as we like to say. That ship sailed. Right now they require a military solution. I can see that Ratmansky feels there have been plenty of years/opportunities for the Russians to improve their worldview and government, but little has fundamentally changed. He seems to think that, aside from the protestors (who have likely all been arrested, btw), everyone else is sitting on the sidelines, either cheering, or shrugging their shoulders and trying to get on with their lives. I think Ratmansky wants to see more organized anti-war activism in Russia, but the government clampdown is going to make that very difficult now. EDIT: I do recommend that people read the transcript of Putin's rally speech (assuming they don't speak Russian) to get a sense of the rhetoric that the government broadcasts now each day.

Alastair Macaulay's posting regarding a recent Alexei Ratmansky posting (includes screenshots of Ratmansky's text): "1, 2, 3, 4. This statement by choreographer Alexei Ratmansky (on my Facebook post of Baryshnikov’s recent interview about Ukraine and Russian artists) is of the utmost importance and interest. Ratmansky includes the support (too little known in the West) of Russian artists for Putin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea - he names names; he includes the Russian artists who continue to support Putin’s 2022 war on Ukraine - he names names; and he addresses Mikhail Baryshnikov’s latest statement about Russian artists and sportsmen being allowed to perform in the West. His intelligent and detailed grasp of the political, historical, and artistic significance of the current situation shines forth from every sentence. A number of people, writing heartlessly from the effortless comfort of their chairs in the West, have coarsely and announced that “silence = consent”, that Russians who do not protest Putin’s war are therefore supporting it. This is both insensitive and ignorant. We must not doubt that, as in Nazi Germany, there are artists whose refusal to criticise the Putin regime is caused by terror of reprisals to their loved ones. Ratmansky, however, here has highlighted both Russian artists who have actually spoken up for Putin (with details and names I had not known) and the more silent support of many other Russian artists who are surely at least aware of the murderous aggression of Putin’s war. The names of Boris Eifman, Nicolai Tzitskaridze, and the Ukrainian-born Svetlana Zakharova are particular examples of pro-Putin artists, but Ratmansky is talking of a larger and more disturbing phenomenon: the increasing popularity within Russia of Putin’s anti-Ukraine violence. It’s hard for us to imagine the propaganda and confused patriotism that must pervade Russia today. Or is it? I’m old enough to remember the colonialist histories of the British Empire that made many Britons feel British culture was a boon for all. <MORE>" https://www.instagram.com/p/CbXRS-6A_fz/

But wait, there's more...from Madison Keesler (in the comments section of the post): "I hurt my neck yesterday and woke up not being able to move much at all today. It should be fine after I see the chiropractor tomorrow. I was so sad to miss today’s show" https://www.instagram.com/p/CbVihk2v6Fi/

I tend to agree. Russian artists are increasingly unwelcome outside of Russia, and looking at the case of US basketball star Brittney Griner, citizens of other nations would be foolhardy to attempt to travel to or work within Russia.

Tiit's latest posting has Alexei Ratmanksy and daughter Chloe in the picture too: "I hope that everyone celebrates tonight because this week was so hard on the entire company. Thank you all my partners @tanyuanyuansf @sashadesola @doresandre @madisonkeesler @jenstahl.weitz @sarah.vanpatten @juliarowekim @wanting__zhao . Thank you @alexeiratmansky for trusting me with this masterpiece." https://www.instagram.com/p/CbWUDTdrZ-v/

I think Froustey was meant to dance with Aaron Robison in La Sylphide but then Aaron was injured...too bad she wasn't given another partner to work with. Perhaps because so many dancers were involved with The Seasons and couldn't spare any rehearsal time. Tiit posted a nice photo commemorating The Seasons, and he mentions getting to dance on stage with his daughter - I think this is the second program this season that he was able to do so. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbMfnThsy9p/ And Misa Kuranaga's short excerpt video shows Chloe Helimets in the background in her red costume: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbS0dSgJo3c/

Here's a Dance Magazine obituary for Yuriko by Wendy Perron. The description of her WWII years was particularly interesting to me.

I guess I need a sarcasm emoji. I just looked on Google, and supposedly an upside down face symbolizes irony/sarcasm. Somehow, that just doesn't do it for me.

I was being sarcastic, and unfortunately, nothing is actually easy in this world. I doubt that bullies objecting to a name like "Russian Ballet" have much experience with, or interest in, ballet. They are just looking for a new target.

Hers is an easy fix: change the name to Ukrainian Ballet and she will get good press.

Her Telegram link appears a the top of her IG page, and for the record, is: https://t.me/marachok Telegram was developed by two brothers, Russian software developers, who ran into issues with Putin and his supporters. One of them lives in France now, but I'm not sure about the other.

On March 13th, Maria Khoreva apparently announced on IG that she would not be able to post to Instagram for a while, and then ended up removing the comment entirely. By reading her fans' comments it's possible to get a sense of what she had posted: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAyXZcIxcW/ She was able to post a a performance announcement today, March 18th, but I wonder if she's going to be admonished for using Instagram at all.