Resisting with art: Documentary shares how Ukrainians are preserving culture through ballet [Video]

PROVO — A Provo native is helping to highlight Ukrainians’ fight for freedom through a documentary about ballet dancers who are preserving art and culture during war.

“Ballet, and art in general, isn’t just a way to show joy and hope during this war; it is a way to fight back, directly,” said director Jonathan Maricle.

In the fall of 2022, the National Ballet of Ukraine performed “Nadiya Ukraine,” a celebration of Ukrainian culture and resilience, during a benefit concert in Orlando to raise funds for the Russia-Ukraine war.

The company Adrenaline Films was asked to record that performance on video. Then, producer Julie Meyer met with the dancers, who began telling their stories of rehearsing and performing during war.

“He (the stage director) was showing her photos of himself and one of the other ballerinas in fatigues, and being like, ‘This is my reality now.’ And Julie just was so struck …