‘We cannot remain indifferent’. Russian ballerina Olga Smirnova leaves the Bolshoi Ballet

Protest on Russian state television is called “hooliganism” 0:42 (CNN) — One of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet’s stars, Olga Smirnova, resigned from the company over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will instead dance for the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. The move comes after the St. Petersburg-born dancer denounced the conflict, saying “a line has been drawn.” In a statement released on Wednesday, the Dutch National Ballet said Smirnova had been “welcomed with open arms”. She is expected to make her debut there with her staging of “Raymonda,” which opens in early April. Smirnova joined the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet in 2011, before taking on leading roles in performances of “Swan Lake” and “Giselle,” among others. Since then, she has toured internationally with the company and has appeared as a guest artist for the American Ballet Theater and the Vienna State Ballet. “I never thought I would be ashamed of Russia” Smirnova, whose grandfather is Ukrainian, wrote on Telegram that she is “against the war with all the fibers of my soul”. “I never thought I would be ashamed of Russia,” she wrote in the statement, which was later republished by the Dutch National Ballet. “I have always been proud of the talented Russian people, of our cultural and sporting achievements. But now I feel like a line has been drawn between before and after. “It hurts me that people die, that people lose the roof over their heads or are forced to leave their homes. And who would have thought a few weeks ago that all this would happen? We may not be at the epicenter of the military conflict, but we cannot remain indifferent in the face of this global catastrophe.” Olga Smirnova performing in “Casse-Noisette et Compagnie” (Nutcracker and Company), a creation by French dancer and choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot , in Monaco in 2015. Credit: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images In a statement, the Dutch National Ballet’s artistic director, Ted Brandsen, described Smirnova as an “exceptional dancer whom I admire very, very much.” privilege to have her dance with our company in the Netherlands, even if the circumstances that prompted this move are incredibly sad,” he added. Other resignations The announcement comes just over a week after two other Bolshoi members — Brazilian soloist David Motta Soares and Italian principal dancer Jacopo Tissi– announced their resignations. Explaining his decision via Instagram, Tissi said Russia’s actions left him “inc able to continue my career in Moscow”, adding that “no war can be justified”. The Bolshoi Theater’s music director, Tugan Sokhiev, also resigned earlier this month, amid mounting pressure to condemn the invasion. In a lengthy statement, he also announced his resignation from the Toulouse National Capitol Orchestra, saying calls for him to speak left him with “the impossible choice between my beloved Russian musicians and my beloved French musicians.” One of the oldest ballet companies in the world, the Bolshoi is among the most prestigious cultural institutions, although it has long-standing ties to the Russian state. As a result, the UK’s Royal Opera House has canceled a company residency, scheduled for this summer, according to a statement provided to CNN. On the other hand, the decision of the New York Metropolitan Opera to stop working with any Russian artist or organization that supports Russian President Vladimir Putin means that it will probably put a freeze on its relationship with the Bolshoi. The two institutions are scheduled to present a co-production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” next year.