Light in Darkness II: A dance charity event in support of Ukraine
Ukrainian dance artists continue their dance of defiance
Two years ago, on the 21st March 2023, a special dance charity event for Ukraine, appropriately called Light in Darkness, was arranged and held by Ukrainian dance artists Vladyslav Detiuchenko and Veronika Rakitina in collaboration with Korzo Theater in The Hague, The Netherlands. The event raised €20,000, which was used to buy and send an ambulance to Ukraine. As the Russian war against Ukraine has now entered its third year, Vlad and Nika again collaborated with Korzo and arranged a second event, Light in Darkness II, with funding from the United Ukrainian Ballet Foundation and the Kylian Foundation. The event took place on Saturday the 1st March to raise more funds for their homeland and to remind everyone that Ukraine still needs our help. After the appalling incident that occurred in the Oval Office on the day before the performance and the worrying turn of direction that has since followed, the whole world has banded together to prove that we all still stand with Ukraine.
Light in Darkness II was an evening of dance and music by Ukrainian, Dutch and Polish artists. All of us in attendance and all the performers were more than determined to do our part to keep supporting Ukraine, and we still are. The event also included a short film made by Vlad and Nika called Rhythms of Resilience - Dance with Daily Risk, which told the story of dancers who are still in Ukraine and working and dancing in a war zone.
The event began with an introductory speech from the Artistic Director of Korzo Theater, Jimmy-Pierre de Graaf who introduced Vlad and Nika, giving them the opportunity to explain the meaning behind the event.
Video: Vlad and Nika’s introductory speech with Jimmy-Pierre de Graaf to Light in Darkness II
After the introduction, the first performer took to the stage - the pianist Anatolii Baryshevskyi, who performed a one-voice etude called Au vent sur la pointe des pieds by Maxim Shalygin. The etude was a technically difficult piece, but Anatolii’s performance was more than praiseworthy as he mastered its challenges. Au vent sur la pointe des pieds creates a feeling of weightlessness and flying, representing complete freedom through music.
The second performer was contemporary dancer Eve-Marie Dalcourt, who gave a stunning performance of the piece Postgenoma by Jacopo Godani, a contemporary solo about transformation where the dancer transforms into a creature from another world. Next was For what is come, choreographed by Maciej Kuźmiński, and performed by Daria Koval and Monika Wikowska. This piece is a tribute to the women of Poland who have played a vital role in supporting Ukrainian women and children who fled their war-torn country, with Daria representing the Ukrainian refugees and Monika representing the Polish women. An interesting element is that the choreography was mostly ground-based: the dancers, especially Daria, performed mostly on the floor, until the end when, after help from Monika, she stood up tall and proud, a perfect way to show that she, like all her fellow Ukrainians, is a survivor.
The final performers of Part 1 were Ukrainian International Ballet performing Richèl Wieles’ de/het/één. This piece premièred last year when it was one of two pieces that was performed in INdependent24, Ukrainian International Ballet’s première performance. The piece is about the beauty of entities coming together and sharing thoughts, ideas and life, diving into the fears of the unknown. The heart of the piece is a reflection of the experience of the Ukrainian dancers leaving their homeland and settling in The Netherlands, focusing not on the horrors of war, but that there is still hope in dark times.
Video: Excerpts of Ukrainian International Ballet in de/het/één by Richèl Wieles
After the interval, Part 2 opened with a speech from one of the Board Members of the organisation Netherlands for Ukraine Foundation where he reminded us of the worrying times and that our support for Ukraine is vital. Afterwards, we had a brief speech from Vlad and Nika before the dancing resumed. The next performer was Rutkay Özpinar, who danced his own work, a solo entitled Aphorisms. The inspiration was his own thoughts that constantly appear and disappear, something that we are all familiar with.
Finally, the stars of the show, Vlad and Nika, took to the stage to dance their piece Everglow. Everglow is a piece of personal memories captured in dance, in which Vlad and Nika relive the very day when their lives changed and the experiences that followed. The couple have openly talked about in previous interviews how on the 24th February 2022, they were suddenly awakened at 5:00am by the sounds of explosions and quickly called their families and friends to warn them and to check on them. Vlad insisted that Nika leave (he was unable to, at the time, due to the rules of martial law) and although she did not want to leave without him, she agreed. She packed a suitcase and the couple bid a tearful farewell to each other before Nika left for the west. She eventually made her way to The Netherlands, where she joined the United Ukrainian Ballet. Several months later, Vlad, along with other male dancers, was given special permission by the Ukrainian government to leave Ukraine to fight the cultural fight. Without telling Nika, he followed her to The Netherlands and the two were finally reunited when he surprised her one morning when he arrived during class.
Video: Vlad and Nika’s story from the 2023 Dutch documentary Vlucht Dans Leef (Flee Dance Live)
A beautiful, very moving piece that touches on the challenges faced by those forced to flee their homes, the struggle for survival, hope, resilience and love. Throughout the whole piece, there was a constant struggle between light and darkness, but light was always present. For example, prop suitcases were opened to reveal lights inside and in the final section, all went dark, until light reappeared, revealing Vlad and Nika performing with lighted mouthpieces that projected a bright light. Everglow proves to be the perfect metaphor that embodies the show’s title, a beautiful reminder that there is always light in darkness.
Video: Excerpts of Vlad and Nika performing Everglow
To summarise, this was an evening of beautiful contemporary artistry performed by some incredible contemporary and classical dance artists that carried a powerful message and mission, one that we should not ignore. Russia’s war against Ukraine is not a political crisis; it is a humanitarian catastrophe, a more than clear example of good vs evil. The message and mission of Light in Darkness II is not one of politics, but of humanity, compassion, suffering and loss, strength and resilience, and hope and love. It reminded all of us who were in attendance that the Ukrainian people are still resisting, even with all the latest chaos that has been caused by the Russian asset in the White House. Ukraine is still standing and its people are firm proof of that fact. Light in Darkness II more than lived up to its title, but its message applies not just to the Ukrainian people, but to all of us. With our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, we can keep the light shining and we can and we must help to keep the light of Ukraine shining as darkness still looms.
Video: Curtain call of Light in Darkness II
Support Ukraine and Ukrainian culture
Ukraine still needs our help, so below are links for several organisations to which you can donate, including Ukrainian International Ballet. Please give what you can, any donation, no matter how big or small, makes all the difference. Let us all do our part to keep helping and supporting our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
Support Ukrainian International Ballet
UNITED24 - The initiative of the President of Ukraine
DONATE - Netherlands For Ukraine Foundation
British Red Cross - Ukraine Crisis Appeal
UNICEF - Donate to our Ukraine Appeal for Children in Crisis
