AMSTERDAM, March 16 (Reuters) – Russian prima ballerina Olga Smirnova, a critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has give up the Bolshoi and can be part of the Dutch Nationwide Ballet, the Dutch group stated on Wednesday.
“It’s a privilege to have her dance with our firm within the Netherlands — even when the circumstances that drove this transfer are extremely unhappy,” stated Dutch Nationwide Ballet Director Ted Brandsen in an announcement.
Smirnova, 30, left Russia in March. In an announcement on her Telegram account republished by the Dutch dance troupe she stated she was “towards struggle with all of the fibres of my soul.”
“I by no means thought I might be ashamed of Russia, I’ve at all times been happy with gifted Russian individuals, of our cultural and athletic achievements,” she wrote. “However now I really feel {that a} line has been drawn.”
Smirnova is now bodily within the Netherlands, a spokesperson for the ballet confirmed.
Reporting by Toby Sterling; enhancing by Jonathan Oatis
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