Japanese Youth Learn Russian Ballet
A Japanese dancer who left Russia following its invasion of Ukraine is teaching ballet to young Japanese in Tokyo.
Fukuda Kohei, a Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre dancer, organized a ballet lesson in the capital's Meguro Ward on Saturday. Twenty-two children aged 10 to 15 learned from Fukuda and a Russian dancer from the same theater.
Some of the children had been learning ballet in Russia before the Ukraine invasion, and some still hope to go to Russia to study it.
Saturday's lesson included practice on performance techniques for groups and individuals.
Nakada Kokoro, a 12-year-old from Gifu Prefecture, said the lesson was difficult but meaningful. She said it was too bad that her plan to study in Russia has been blocked. She also said she hopes she will be able to go there someday.
Maejima Anna, also 12, had been studying in Russia before the invasion. She said she keeps practicing and hopes to go back to Russia to take more lessons.
Fukuda said that historically, Russian dancers who fled the country due to a revolution or a war have gone on to introduce Russian ballet around the world. He said he hopes that children will hold onto their dreams and never give up.