Kyiv Modern Ballet

“Kyiv Modern Ballet” - Ukrainian Theater of Modern Choreography by Radu Poklitaru

City: Kyiv

Year of foundation: 2006

Director: Radu Poklitaru

Number of performances: 31

The founder, director, and chief choreographer of the Kyiv Modern Ballet Theater is Radu Poklitaru, Honored Artist of Ukraine and winner of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize. Already in his student years, he became known for his author's approach to creating dance miniatures and his ability to convey not only emotions and feelings through dance, but also to tell a true story, add depth to it and touch upon eternal questions. Radu Poklitaru's graduation performance "The Fairy's Kiss" was staged at the Bolshoi Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus. In 2000-2001, Radu Poklitaru worked as the chief choreographer of the Moldovan National Opera, but was forced to resign for political reasons. Over the next five years, Radu Poklitaru collaborated with various theaters and created his own original performances: "Pictures from the Exhibition" to the music of M. Musorsky, "The Rite of Spring" based on Stravinsky's works at the National Opera of Ukraine, "The Seven Deadly Sins" by Kurt Weill at the Perm Opera and Ballet Theater, "Cinderella" at the Latvian National Opera, and others. A special place in the work of Radu Poklitaru is occupied by the performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Bolshoi Theater of Russia. The play was created in collaboration with the English director Declan Donnellan and caused a real wave of resonant discussion. Radu Poklitaru has won numerous awards in international and domestic competitions:

1999 - Best Contemporary Choreography, Oleg Danovsky International Competition (Romania)

1999 - Best one-act ballet, international festival "Music of the World" (Italy)

1999 - III prize in the choreography competition, Serge Lifar International Competition (Ukraine)

2000 - I prize for the best contemporary choreography, International Ballet Competition in Varna (Bulgaria)

2000 - Special Prize for the best choreography, International Festival of Contemporary Choreography in Vitebsk (Belarus)

2000 - Prize for the best contemporary choreography, international competition of ballet dancers "Arabesque" (Russia)

2001 - I prize of the choreographers' competition, international competition of ballet dancers and choreographers (Russia)

2001 - I prize in the choreographers' competition, Serge Lifar International Competition (Ukraine)

2008 - I Prize for the best contemporary choreography, International Ballet Competition in Varna (Bulgaria)

In 2016, the choreographer was awarded the Taras Shevchenko National Prize for his ballets Crossroads, Swan Lake, Women in D Minor, and Long Christmas Lunch. In addition, in 2016, Radu Poklitaru was awarded the title of People's Artist of Moldova, and the following year, Honored Artist of Ukraine, and is a multiple winner of the Kyiv Pectoral Prize (2002, 2006, 2007, 2020). In addition to directing the theater, Radu Poklitaru works with television. In particular, he was a judge of the Ukrainian version of the project "You Can Dance" on STB and others.

The idea to create their own theater in Kyiv originated in 2006 and was realized thanks to philanthropist Volodymyr Filippov. As a result of the selection process, 16 dancers were chosen, although the presence of academic special education was not a prerequisite for successful completion of the competition. The official date of birth of Radu Poklitaru's theater is October 25, 2006, when the two-part performance "Carmen TV" premiered at the Ivan Franko National Academic Theater, and is still in the repertoire of Kyiv Modern Ballet. This debut work of the theater was awarded two prizes at once. The performance received the Kyiv Pectoral Award in the nominations "Best Performance of the Year" and "Best Work of the Choreographer". And Olga Kondakova, the lead actress, was nominated in the category of Best Actress. The next two years were devoted to the continuous work of Radu Poklitaru and his team. Already in 2008, the theater received the country's main theater award, the Kyiv Pectoral, in the special nomination "Event of the Year." Since then, the theater has produced the following performances: "The Verona Myth: Shakespeare's Tales, Bolero, Rain, and The Nutcracker. The company also took part in numerous theater festivals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Including the special program of the Golden Mask and New Horizons festivals. The theater also attended festivals in France and Thailand, which demonstrates the international recognition of the company and its founder.

Radu Poklitaru himself told about the creation of the theater in an interview with the Ukrainian publication Vechirny Kyiv: 

"I just knew that such a theater was needed. And now I am sure that the existence of Kyiv Modern Ballet is a great gift for Ukraine."

Their performances are deep stories told in one of the most beautiful ways - through dance. High level of performance, emotionality and sensuality. Attending ballet performances is a great opportunity to get acquainted with modern ballet and fall in love with it. It's a new look at familiar works, it's a vivid experiment that sticks in your memory. Chief choreographer Radu Poklitaru about preparations for the performances:

"The audience does not have to be prepared. We offer a holistic product so that people don't leave with a feeling of 'not getting it'. 

(с) Vechirny Kyiv

And that's the magic of discovering new things right in the hall, when a beautiful dance performance is taking place on stage, which you watch without any expectations or ideas. Everything appears here and now.

2006 - performance "Carmen TV", “Kyiv Pectoral” award, nominations for "Best Performance" and "Best Choreography".

2007 - performance "The Verona Myth: Shakespeare's Reenactments", “Kyiv Pectoral” award, nomination "Event of the Year"

2007 - "Bolero" performance, "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nomination "Event of the Year" 

2007 – performance “Rain”, "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nomination "Event of the Year"

2007 – performance “Nutracker”, "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nomination "Event of the Year"

2012 – performance “Crossroads”, "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nomination "Event of the Year"

2013 – performance “Swan Lake”, "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nomination "Event of the Year"

2016 – performances "Swan Lake, "Women in D Minor," "The Long Christmas Lunch," "Crossroads" Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine for 2016, nomination "Musical Art"

2019 – performance "Sleeping Beauty", award "II All-Ukrainian Theater Festival-Award "GRA", nomination "Best Choreographic/Ballet/Plastic Performance"

2020 – performance "Viy", "Kyiv Pectoral" award, nominations for "Best Director's Work", "Best Performance by an Actor", "Best Musical Concept", "Best Plastic Design".

2006 – "Carmen TV" (music by G. Bizet)

2007 – "Romeo and Julllet (Shakexpiriments)" (music by P. Tchaikovsky, F. Handel, Renaissance melodies)

2007 - "Rain" (music by J-S. Bach and the peoples of the world)

2007 – "Bolero" (music by M. Ravel)

2008 – “Nutcracker” (music by P. Tchaikovsky)

2008 – "Ward 6" (music by A. Pärt)

2008 – «Underground» (music by P. Vasks)

2009 – "Two for the seesaw" (music by J.S. Bach and C. Vargas, based on W.Gibson`s play of the same name)

2010 – "Quartet-a-tete" (music by A. Maas)

2010 – «Con tutti i strumenti» (a divertissement of modern choreography)

2011 – «In Pivo Veritas» (Irish folk music, music of the Renaissance)

2013 – "Swan Lake". Modern version (music by P. Tchaikovsky)

2014 – "Women in d-moll" (music by J.S. Bach)

2014 – "The Long Christmas Dinner" (music by A. Vivaldi)

2015 – "Closer than love" (music by J. Pachelbel, Handel, Gluck, Vivaldi, Bossaud, Marcello)

2016 – "Giselle" (music by A. Adan)

2016 – "Running through life" (music by J.S. Bach, W. Martens, M. Richter)

2017 – "Up the river" (music by O. Rodin)

2018 – "Sleeping beauty" (music by P. Tchaikovsky)

2019 –"The tree cannot escape" (music by P. Vasks, D. Cage, E. Granet)

2019 – " Nerozluchnyky" (music by Mahler, Puccini)

2019 – "Viy" (music by Alexander Rodin)

2020 – "1984. Another" (music by Hildur Gudnadottir, Hauschka)

2020 – "The Little Prince” (music by W.A. Mozart and Ukrainian lullabies)

2021 – "Nine dates" (music by F. Chopin)

2021 – "The queen of spades" (music by Tchaikovsky)

2023 – “Paper tigers” (music by foreign composers)

2023 – “Second Floor” (music by James Blake Nils Frahm Gustavo Santaolalla)

2023 – "Tomorrow" (music by F. Chopin)

2023 – "And the sun rises every day!" (a divertissement of modern choreography)

2023 – "DiscrimiNATION" (music by G.F. Handel and V.V. Silvestrov)