Grand Kyiv Ballet to Perform Swan Lake at the Dorset Playhouse

March 6, 2026, 7:30 pm

A One-Night-Only Performance to Support the Future of Ukrainian Ballet

On March 6, 2026, the stage at the Dorset Players will transform into a moonlit lakeshore, and world-renowned ballet dancers will take the stage to transport the audience into a world of magic, love, and betrayal.

But this is so much more than an evening at the ballet.

The Dorset Players and Lisa J. Hadlock are welcoming the Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine to the Dorset Playhouse for a fundraiser performance of Swan Lake.

Every pirouette, every lift, every hush in the audience will help support Ukrainian artists and rebuild the Kyiv State Ballet College, ensuring that young dancers in Kyiv have the facilities and training they need to continue their craft.

Since 2014, the Grand Kyiv Ballet has carried Ukrainian culture across borders and oceans. Founded by Oleksandr Stoianov, the company began with a successful tour in France, filling 35 theaters with enthralled audiences eager to experience the artistry and resilience of Ukrainian ballet.

Today, the company includes more than 100 dancers performing on some of the world’s leading stages.

In the wake of war, their mission has expanded.

Each tour is both a performance and a promise. Proceeds from this event and the accompanying auction will go directly to restoring the Kyiv State Ballet College and supporting the children who are training to become the next generation of dancers.

The Performance: Swan Lake

Few works in classical ballet shimmer with the emotional depth of Swan Lake. Set to the unforgettable score of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the ballet tells the story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess bound by a spell that transforms her into a swan by day.

With themes of love, sacrifice, betrayal, and redemption, this thrilling tale comes to life with elaborate costumes, intricate choreography, and music that rises and falls like a heartbeat.

This special production features choreography by renowned Ukrainian masters Anatoliy Shekera and Valeriy Kovtun, brought to life by dancers from the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater. Expect technical brilliance, sweeping emotion, and intimate, unforgettable moments.

Event Details

Date: March 6, 2026
Location: Dorset Playhouse, 104 Cheney Road, Dorset
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Performance: 7:30 PM

Enjoy a festive atmosphere with:
• Pre-show and intermission cash bar by Haystack Catering
• After-show reception food provided by Barrows House

Tickets are $55 and available at https://dorsetplayers.org or by calling 802-867-5777.

Support the Silent Online Auction

The celebration extends beyond the stage.

A Silent Online Auction is currently live and runs through March 6 at 10 PM.

Whether you attend in person or support from afar, bidding in the auction is a meaningful way to contribute. Every winning bid helps rebuild facilities in Kyiv and supports children dedicating themselves to ballet during an unimaginably difficult time.

Consider it a standing ovation that echoes long after the curtain falls.

Your support helps ensure that Ukrainian ballet continues to soar.