Alexei Ratmansky and Tatiana Ratmanskaya Work in Kyiv Amid Wartime Bombing Attacks

Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky and Tatiana Ratmanskaya arrived in Kyiv during one of the war's most intense phases, a stretch marked by repeated strikes on the Ukrainian capital. The couple's time in the city has been punctuated by frequent dashes to bomb shelters, sometimes several times in a single day. Tatiana Ratmanskaya described the conditions as taxing on both mind and body, saying the situation is difficult in every sense. Their work in Kyiv involves the Ukrainian National Ballet and the choreography of George Balanchine, according to The New York Times, which reported on the project on September 14, 2026. The article, titled "Making Dance In Kyiv Between Bombing Runs," documents how the company continues to rehearse and perform while air raids disrupt daily life. The Ratmanskys' arrival overlapped with a period of constant attacks on the capital, placing their artistic activity directly within the war's front-line reality. The report does not specify performance dates, venues, or the full scope of the Balanchine program.