Is group performing ‘Swan Lake’ in Bellingham really from Ukraine? It’s complicated

On Thursday, April 24, the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine will bring a performance of “Swan Lake” to Bellingham’s Mount Baker Theatre.

The group is, notably, not the National Ballet of Ukraine, the country’s official ballet that toured the U.S. and Canada late last year.

But the similarities between the two names, as well as the group’s performance of “Swan Lake,” which violates a boycott that Ukrainian institutions have imposed on works by Russian artists, has sparked confusion and calls for boycotts.

What is the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine and why has its performance sparked controversy? Here’s what we know.

What is the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine?

The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine is part of Brooklyn, NY-based dance company Classical Arts Entertainment.

The group, which will perform in Seattle on Friday, is run by the trio of Michael Art and Ekaterina and Artem Yachmennikov. Art is from the former Soviet Union but is Armenian by nationality and says he moved to the U.S. over three decades ago. The Yachmenikovs are Russian but have lived in the U.S. “for a long time as well,” according to Art.

Art estimates that 80% of the performers are Ukrainian, with the rest coming from nearby countries, primarily Moldova. He noted that none are from Russia.

“We fully support Ukraine and have done everything we can to assist the families of our Ukrainian dancers,” Art said in an email to The Herald.

Art chalks up the criticism of the group to a few people spreading misinformation.

However, some still take issue with the group’s name, seeing it as an attempt to capitalize on international support for Ukraine artists since Russia invaded the country in 2022.

Is the ballet connected to the Ukrainian government?

Marc McMurrin, who served as the executive liaison for the National Ballet of Ukraine’s 2024 North American tour, sent The Herald a copy of a letter from Ukraine’s then-Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Oleksandr Tkachenko, addressed to German Commissioner for Culture and the Media Claudia Roth. In the letter, Tkachenko says that, since the war began, several groups that aren’t affiliated with Ukrainian institutions have started touring under names implying some sort of official connection to Ukraine. Tkachenko doesn’t mention the State Ballet Theatre by name, although the letter focuses on groups in Europe.

“There have emerged a number of ‘imposter’ companies who take advantage of the popularity of Ukrainian culture and recognizable brand of Ukrainian classic ballet school with the only aim of getting as much profit as it is possible,” Tkachenko’s letter says.

However, according to Art, the State Ballet Theatre was created well before the start of the war.

“Our brand, the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine, has existed for nearly 10 years,” Art said. “Since 2016, we’ve been presenting Ukrainian ballet internationally.”

Even if the group wasn’t created to take advantage of the war, the inclusion of the word “state” in the name could be seen as misleading, since it implies a connection to the Ukrainian government.

“It implies that they are government-represented,” McMurrin said in a phone call with The Herald.

McMurrin said the group had come up in his preparation for the National Ballet’s tour last year and that none of the government-run theaters in Ukraine had ever heard of the State Ballet Theatre.

“They have no knowledge of the existence of such a theater,” McMurrin said.

Art, however, said that the group has contracts with official Ukrainian institutions, which is why the word “state” was included in the name.

“We continue to work with official Ukrainian state theaters,” Art said. “I have an official contract with a state theater in Ukraine, which I’ve already shared with the Mount Baker Theatre as proof of authenticity and to reassure them that this is indeed a legitimate Ukrainian ballet company.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Mount Baker Theatre didn’t respond to The Herald’s request to confirm Art’s claim. A spokesperson for the theater previously told The Herald that the State Ballet Theatre is “a professional touring company presenting a legitimate event.”

Why performing ‘Swan Lake’ could be a problem

The issue goes beyond the group’s name and whether or not it has ties to the Ukrainian government.

Since the start of the war, official Ukrainian institutions have imposed a temporary boycott on works by Russian artists. As a result, companies like the State Ballet Theatre can perform works by Russian artists that are among the most popular ballets in the world, including Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” giving them a leg up on the official Ukrainian ballet.

According to Tkachenko, performing Tchaikovsky’s work in Ukraine’s name during the war is insensitive in addition to putting official Ukrainian institutions at a disadvantage.

“It would not pose any problem for us if not the following: chasing for increased incomes such companies choose commercially successful pieces by Russian imperial composer Petr Tchaikovsky while bearing the name ‘Ukrainian’ in the title of the company,” Tkachenko’s letter says. “That is really unacceptable for us, for in times when the Russian army keeps destroying our cities, when Russian soldiers torture and murder numerous civilians, it deeply hurts our feeling to see a ‘Ukrainian’ company to dance wearing Russian national costumes to Russian music.”

According to Art, however, what’s most important is that the group is promoting Ukrainian culture and performers.

“I believe what we’re doing is important and positive. The dancers are grateful to be here, and we’re grateful to share Ukrainian culture with North American audiences,” Art said.

McMurrin said that, taken alone, the group’s name and choice of performance wouldn’t pose any problems, but issues arise when you take the two together.

“What makes it really upsetting to Ukrainians is that they are using the word ‘state’ for people to assume that they’re affiliated with the government, and they’re performing works that are forbidden by the government,” McMurrin said. “Outside of that, go perform ‘Swan Lake,’ have Ukrainian ballet [performers], there’s nothing wrong with any of that.”

This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM.