Russian ballet dancers excluded from NYC gala due to protests - photos

Russian ballet dancers from the prestigious Mariinsky Theater were barred from performing at a gala in New York celebrating the 25th anniversary of the American Youth Grand Prix due to protests by Ukrainian groups, Ukraine's Ambassador Oksana Markarova reported on Facebook on April 20.

The event was scheduled to take place at the David H. Koch Theater.

"Putin's ballet has been canceled!," Markarova announced. "A great reminder at the end of the week that the strength of Ukrainians is in unity and initiative."

The New York Times and other leading American media covered the protest and the consequent cancellation. The reports indicated that two dancers from the Mariinsky Theater were specifically targeted by the protestors, which led to their exclusion from the gala event. The management of the American Youth Grand Prix decided to remove the dancers from the program after facing criticism from pro-Ukrainian officials and activists who argued that hosting these artists supported the Russian government.

Read also: Ukrainian soldier who lost legs performs ballet in US

The Mariinsky Theater, a state-run institution in St. Petersburg, is led by Valery Gergiev, a conductor known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier, on initiative of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and thanks to efforts of Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul, with support of Ukrainian community and international partners, Russian ballet tour was canceled in South Korea.

Read also: Several Lviv Opera artists fail to return to Ukraine after Finland performances

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