Kiri

THE FOREST SONG Ballet

Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College

‘Great nations write their history primarily in the book of art. Ukrainian ballet is a business card of Ukrainian culture’

Kateryna Kukhar, Head of the Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College, prima ballerina of the National Opera of Ukraine

2024-2025 was the jubilee academic year of the Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College.

The Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College was founded in 1934.

On the occasion of the anniversary, the college is preparing a large-scale ballet performance ‘The Forest Song’, which embodies national traditions and classical choreographic achievements of Ukraine.

We appeal to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to support our initiative to promote Ukrainian ballet internationally and to facilitate the organization of tours of ‘The Forest Song’ abroad as a multicultural project that combines classical choreography with Ukrainian cultural heritage.

This production will be a significant cultural contribution to the presentation of Ukraine outside our country and will highlight the uniqueness of our choreographic school, which has deep traditions and trains future stars of world ballet.

HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE

The history of the Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College began with the Children's Ballet Studio at the Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1934.

Today, children study at the college at state expense, and students from all over Ukraine who really have great talent and potential are admitted.

The college currently has 190 pupils and students.

Despite the war, they continue to perform not only on the stage of the college's educational theatre, but also on the professional stages of the National Opera of Ukraine and the Kyiv Municipal Opera and Ballet Theatre for Children and Youth.

COLLEGE NOW

The media talk about their talent and ballet premieres.

For example, they wrote about the premiere of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years: VOGUE, ELLE, VIVA and many others, they were featured in stories and photo projects created for the premiere that were covered by leading Ukrainian media. Pupils and students annually take part in national and international ballet competitions and festivals and win.

COLLEGE IN MEDIA

For nine decades, the College has trained numerous dancers who have performed on the world's leading stages and made a significant contribution to the development of culture and art.

Among the most famous graduates: Valerii Kovtun, Tetiana Taiakina, Alla Lahoda, Eleonora Stebliak, Raisa Khylko, Valentyna Kalynovska, Iryna Dvorovenko, Maksym Bilotserkivskyi, Alina Kozhokaru, Kateryna Kukhar, Oleksandr Zhembrovskyi, Olga Holytsia, Kateryna Khaniukova, Olesya Shaitanova and many others.

These outstanding artists and many others are the pride of the Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College and a testament to its significant contribution to the world art of ballet.

THE MOST FAMOUS ALUMNI

‘The Forest Song is a masterpiece of Ukrainian literature, a spiritual symbol of the Ukrainian people. It is a fundamental work not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. It is the work of the legendary poetess Lesia Ukrainka that raises deep philosophical themes that are important for any nation: reflections on the meaning of life, the choice between duty and desire, between the material and the spiritual. The images of Mavka and Lukash represent the conflict between natural harmony and human weaknesses, which is relevant for all eras.

This work has become a source of inspiration for many generations of artists: composers, painters, and directors.

That is why Lesia Ukrainka's ‘Forest Song’ is the most fundamental work of Ukrainian literature that can be of interest to the world.

‘THE FOREST SONG’

The world of The Forest Song is expanding every day, and in 2023, the grand premiere of the animated film Mavka. The Forest Song, which was seen all over the world and had high box office receipts, and aroused interest in the work and the image of the characters in other arts as well.

The ballet ‘The Forest Song’ has been the pride of Ukrainian and world choreography for more than 75 years, just like the legendary ‘Giselle’ and ‘Don Quixote’.

The ballet is based on the masterpiece of the great Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka to the musical motifs of Ukrainian composer Mykhailo Skorulskyi.

Our goal is to create a choreography for the students of the Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College, who could present this ballet not only at the National Opera of Ukraine, but also on other stages around the world.

‘THE FOREST SONG’

‘The Forest Song is a symbol of Ukraine in the world culture.

‘The Forest Song is a masterpiece of Ukrainian literature and a spiritual symbol of the Ukrainian people.

Lesіa Ukrainka's work has been raising deep philosophical questions for the second century, which are relevant for any nation and era: the choice between material and spiritual, harmony with nature, and the struggle for the right to be free.

The images of Mavka and Lukash represent the conflict between human weaknesses and the desire for harmony, and the work itself is a source of inspiration for artists of different generations - composers, painters, and directors.

‘THE FOREST SONG’

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Kyiv State Professional Choreographic College named after Tetyana Tayakina, a new production of the ballet “The Forest Song” premiered in 2025.

The new version was created by Oleksii Kovalenko. He not only adapted the performance for the college's pupils and students, but also recreated a real Ukrainian wedding on stage, filling the production with national colour.

The aim of the project is not only to present the ballet on the stage of the National Opera of Ukraine, but also to present Ukrainian art internationally. We strive to make this ballet a multicultural project that combines the literary, musical, and choreographic heritage of Ukraine to promote it on world stages.

We ask for the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to organize an international tour of the ballet performance "Forest Song" in 2026.

This project will help not only to present Ukrainian culture abroad, but also to strengthen the position of the Ukrainian dance school in the global cultural space.

‘THE FOREST SONG’

THE FOREST SONG Ballet

Tetiana Taiakina Kyiv State Ballet College