Swan Lake - Kyiv Classic Ballet

The company was founded in 2008 by Tatyana Borovyk and Oksana Soloyiova as a classical, international touring ensemble in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The artistic director is Tatiana Goliakova. She was a leading figure in the National Opera of Ukraine and was honored with the title "People's Artist of Ukraine". Goliakova pays particular attention to the artistic heritage and the preservation of the purest form of classical ballet. Under her direction, the Kyiv Classic Ballet is now an internationally renowned ballet company, appreciated for its lightness, musicality and subtle technique - reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Ukrainian classical ballet traditions.

From its foundation until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the company was based in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. It represented and developed the best traditions of the Kyiv Ballet School, whose graduates adorn ballet ensembles all over the world. After the Russian missile attacks on the capital began, the ensemble was forced to relocate its rehearsal and theater base to Europe. Since then, the Kyiv Classic Ballet has celebrated its greatest successes in Japan, where it has been recognized as one of the world's best guest ballets for ten years and tours for three months every year.

The ensemble - The company works with leading dancers from Ukraine (around 75 percent of the ensemble) and the entire ballet world. The troupe's well-known soloists include Anna Reznicenko and Oleksiy Knyazkov, who will also enchant audiences in Germany and Switzerland as the Swan Lake couple in 2026. The Kyiv Classic Ballet supports and promotes young talents in particular, offering them the opportunity to constantly refine their art with the best ballet teachers and on big stages. However, the troupe is always accompanied on tour by stars of the current ballet scene as guest dancers

. Anna Reznichenko first shone in the double role of Odette/Odile during the Swan Lake tour of Japan in 2023, taking the hearts of audiences and critics alike by storm. Since then, she has been prima ballerina and a new star of the Kyiv Classic Ballet. Reznichenko graduated from the Kyiv State Choreographic School and became a soloist at the Kyiv City Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet for Children and Youth and a soloist at the Kishinev Opera Theater (Moldova). She is a winner of the International Ballet Competitions in Kharkiv and Kyiv, Ukraine (both 2021). She is regarded as a technically accomplished and highly emotional ballerina who never fails to impress audiences with her deep understanding of the role and her art of performance.

Oleksiy Knyazkov studied at the Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (Ukraine). In 2013, he completed his studies at the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture (Ukraine). His career has taken him to the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain, Norway, Israel, China and Taiwan. He was also a principal dancer at the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater until 2022. In 2018, he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Hellas International Dance Competition in Greece as a dancer. In 2021, he received an award for the best duet in Ukraine at the IBF Ballet UA. He has been a solo dancer with Kyiv Classic Ballet since 2024. Kniazkov is known for his charismatic stage presence and technical skills. His portrayal of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake has been praised for its emotional depth and precision.

The special costumes and unique sets are created under the direction of Ukrainian theater artist Mariia Levytska and were created especially for the Kyiv Classic Ballet.

The classic ballet "Swan Lake"

"Swan Lake" is one of the most famous and most frequently performed classical ballets, composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It tells the story of Princess Odette, who has been enchanted into a swan by the magician Rothbart, and Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with her.

The enchanted princess and her entourage of swan maidens are only human at night and spend the day by the lake in their swan-like form. Siegfried swears eternal love to Odette in order to break the spell. Rothbart is unwilling to allow this and at a ball at court, Siegfried is seduced by the "black swan" Odile, whom he mistakes for Odette. This entanglement leads to the dramatic final battle between Siegfried and Rothbart and the question of whether true love will prevail.

The Swan Lake music by Peter Tchaikovsky is a captivating mixture of passionate melodies that reflect the emotional depth of the plot. The "swan theme" is particularly well-known and has an iconic presence. The ballet choreographies are full of graceful movements and graceful pas de deux that capture the delicate and majestic qualities of swans. In particular, the large swan images of the corps de ballet, inspired by the flight formations of the birds, have become a trademark of the piece.

Swan Lake" masterfully combines music, dance and dramaturgy to create a timeless work of art that has fascinated audiences for generations. The work combines romantic elements with international folklore and is a masterpiece that captivates ballet lovers and newcomers alike. The timeless story of love, betrayal and redemption makes "Swan Lake" an unforgettable experience for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of ballet.