Ukraine's ‘ballet in a basement' sends a message from the war's front lines
In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it is hard to escape the war with Russia.
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On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30km (19 miles) away.
Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently – but unpredictably – a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city.
Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many people in Kharkiv suffer a mental toll from the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity.
But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing.
Ballet dancers practise for the revival of Chopiniana in the underground area of Kharkiv's National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Photo: Reuters
A pianist plays as ballerinas practise for the revival of Chopiniana. Photo: Reuters
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