Light on Stage: La Fille mal gardée at the National Opera of Ukraine

How an English ballet became a gift of solidarity for Ukraine

On June 12 and 13, the National Opera of Ukraine hosted the premiere of La Fille mal gardée (“The Wayward Daughter”) by Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold, choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton. For the first time, this bright and witty masterpiece of classical ballet has been staged in Ukraine — as a symbolic gesture of cultural solidarity and support in times of war.

Originally created for The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden in 1960, Ashton’s version of the ballet captures the joy and humor of rural life. It is one of the warmest and most delightful works in the classical repertoire — full of tenderness, charm, and comic brilliance.

Today, this production remains a beloved part of the repertoires of The Royal Ballet in London, the Paris Opera Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, the Dutch National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and more. With its Kyiv debut, the list of esteemed stages grows — with deep meaning behind it.

“It is a gift. A light. A reminder of the life Ukrainians are fighting for,” emphasized Ivan Putrov, a former Royal Ballet principal dancer and producer of the 2024 Dance for Ukraine gala in London, where the idea of bringing this ballet to Kyiv was born.

The premiere was made possible by the UK-based Inspiration in Motion foundation, in cooperation with Jean-Pierre Gasquet (rights holder), The Frederick Ashton Foundation, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and other cultural allies of Ukraine.

With set design by Sir Osbert Lancaster and musical arrangement by John Lanchbery, the Ukrainian production features choreography meticulously recreated by ballet master Jean-Christophe Lesage and musical direction by conductor Viktor Oliinyk.

The decision to bring this ballet to Ukraine was not just artistic — it was moral. Since the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian cultural institutions have reviewed their repertoires and redefined their roles in society.

“You can’t perform Tchaikovsky in a city just struck by Russian missiles. It’s not neutrality — it’s cruelty,” says National Opera dancer Danyil Silkin, who also serves in Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

For the Ukrainian cast, this ballet was not only a technical challenge — it was emotional restoration. Principal dancers include Ilona Kravchenko, Mykyta Sukhurokov, Kateryna Kurchenko, Volodymyr Kutuzov, Oleksandr Habelko, Daniil Silkin, Clément Guillaume, Yevhen Lohvynenko, among others.

“This ballet feels like a warm village morning — fresh, honest, alive. It’s pure joy, even when everything around hurts,” shares Kateryna Kurchenko, who dances the role of Lise.

“We’re not performing, we’re living. Every gesture is a gesture of love,” adds Volodymyr Kutuzov, who portrays Colas.

Artistic director Nobughiro Terada notes:

“We needed to look forward, not stay in the past. Ashton’s Fille is our way of saying: we are open, we are alive, we are strong.”

Ukrainian dancers worked with international coaches, trained abroad, and rehearsed with dedication despite air raid sirens, uncertainty, and emotional strain.

On the stage — not just a love story, but a cultural response to aggression. This premiere was not simply another addition to the repertoire. It was a declaration of resilience through art.

“We don’t know how long the war will last. But we do know this: culture must live,” concludes Ivan Putrov.

In La Fille mal gardée, Ukrainian ballet found a way to smile through sorrow — and remind the world of the extraordinary strength behind every light on a darkened stage.

Antonina Linnik