Survival of their nation. Its also about the survival of their identity. Their language, their culture. A big part of that culture is ballet. Some dancers stayed in ukraine and continued to perform even with limited audiences and constant Air Raid Sirens. But others made the hard choice to leave and continue with their training. A group of about 60 dancers found their way to the netherlands, where they joined the United Ukrainian Ballet. Every dancer in that company is a refugee. They perform nonrussian ballets all over the world, and they plan to keep on doing that, showing the world the power and beauty of ukrainian ballet and why their culture is worth protecting. Cnns Christiane Amanpour traveled to the netherlands and to ukraine to meet with this Extraordinary Group of dancers and watch them as they fight the war in their own way. Im rolling. Yeah, thats great. Okay, guys, lets go. From the beginning of the war i began to think should i go to military to protect my country. I actually still think about it. Do you think you could have picked up a gun . Youre a dancer. You do peaceful things. Do you think you could have gone to the front . It was quite hard to think about these things. Because if i will choose this i understand that i will not be dancer anymore. So for me its choice of my life. Do you understand . I can represent my country as a dancer, as a ballet artist. We remind people that russia tried to destroy our identity. They tell that ukrainian doesnt have culture, this country not exist. Were showing that we exist and we have our own culture. Its our mission. Its our mission. Ready . Where were you on the morning of february 24th, 2022 . I slept in my flat in kharkiv. I heard explosions outside. I felt something really, really terrible begin. Something like inside how to say it . Say it in ukrainian. It was like a feeling that the story from a book comes to the real life. Everything started trembling like we were trying to understand what we have to do. What our next steps are going to be. Before panic comes. We looked for the place to hide. We had cellar in our house. Its cold because were sitting for hours. The residents of kyiv seem to be getting in their cars and driving as fast as they can to the west. What were you feeling . Were you scared . There were very scary moments when the russians were near kyiv. And my mom told me that you are a girl, there are crazy soldiers, i dont want you to be here. From early in the morning we waited till late in the evening to sit inside the train, its how many people inside. It was luck. We went on last or one before last trains. Nine hours without moving. The Fastest Growing Refugee Crisis in europe since world war ii, spilling across the borders of the former soviet union and now relying on the kindness of strangers. A year ago i was dancing with two ukrainian dancers, and then the war started. I was able to give them a place here to keep dancing, and then i would hear the stories of their friends and colleagues in kyiv being stuck in metro stations and not being able to work or dance at all. What was the light bulb that went off that said im going to create this new ballet for these ukrainian dancers who cant do it at home anymore . I thought about it and i said why dont i try to use my position here to get as many people as i can here. They came in little by little. Ill never forget the first ballerina who arrived. She arrived with her little daughter, 2 years old. They had spent 40 hours on the train with three suitcases. Alexei is a dear friend of mine. Hes a phenomenal choreographer. Hes a wonderful human being. And i knew that the company needed him as an inspiration. I grew up in kyiv, ukraine, was born in leningrad. My mom is from leningrad. Shes russian. And my dad is from kyiv. Hes a ukrainian jew. When the war started i was in moscow at the bolshoi doing a new big ballet. Anger, disbelief. You just cant believe that it can happen. I worked with the russian dancers for more than 20 years. You realize that all your russian history always connects you to your past, your projects, its like shutting the door. He left everything and left straightaway. So i called him and i said im starting this project, i need your help. She said i have a few ukrainian dancers and there are going to be more. They are refugees. And i want to give them a place to form a permanent company. And he said im there, just tell me when, im there. And so he came to make his giselle. We picked giselle because its one of the most beautiful classical ballets ever choreographed. At the beginning of the show they had women because the men are not allowed to leave the country of certain age. So the men had to get special permission. When the first few men arrived, that was a very emotional day. They were texting each other saying okay, were almost there, were almost there. There are still dancers, there are a couple and she didnt know that her boyfriend was arriving. And she was in class. Just at one point he was by the door. To see them reunited its very emotional. They were safe. First day when i came i went immediately on rehearsal. Just 20 minutes after i came. It actually really helps me to not feel like bad or depression or Something Like this. Work really helps. Its a good way to feel in the middle of a war. Yes. Yes. To not think about anything. Just be in the moment. Did you expect some of them to arrive with grandmothers and babies and sisters, moms and families . No. Not really. But of course when they did we tried to everybody was welcome. Now united ukraine ballet is more than 65 dancers. So its a whole community now. What is your impression of all these refugees who had to flee a land war . It was very strange when we start aid year ago. You know, people come and we say what are we going to do, lets dance. You know, coming from a war its weird and its very hard. But this is the language we speak, they speak. And we find each other here as friends, as family. We go to pli e3 coming up slowly like the flowers in springtime. It wasnt a company at the beginning. People with very different experiences and levels. Some roles are very challenging physically. They were all excited but some were very scared. But the moment we started to work its just you know, its work. You need to get the steps right. You need to get the acting right, the style. You need to unify the dynamics. Its not only dancing. It carries the weight of representing the country at war. Just months after it was formed the United Ukrainian Ballet is about to show their giselle to the world. Well be performing at Kennedy Center in washington, d. C. , one of the most important stages in the world. Very exciting. And were a little scared, but its going to be great. Its going to be great. Tmobile and im here to protect you from Wireless Companies that blitz you with phone deals that sack you with a 3year device contract. Even i could get sacked . Not at tmobile they have plans that make upgrades work for you. They even have a plan which makes you upgrade ready every year. Thanks ben now can i do the thing . Do the thing excellent take charge of your upgrades with our best go5g plans at tmobile. Lets have a huddle you dont know what huddle is do you . No. vo in three seconds, pam will decide. pam im moving closer to the grandkids wait. I got to sell the house vo dont wait, just sell directly to opendoor. Easy as pie. pam piece of cake. vo whichever. Get your Competitve Offer at opendoor. Com. [its the final game, folks. This one wins the series. ] struck out with the cheap seats . Important things arent worth compromising. At farmers, we offer both Quality Insurance and great savings. crowd cheers here, take mine. Farmers Mnemonic only at vanguard, youre more than just an investor, youre an owner. Our Financial Planning tools and advice can help you prepare for todays longer retirement. Hi mom. Thats the value of ownership. Tourists tourists that turn into scientists. Tourists photographing thousands of miles of remote coral reefs. That can be analyzed by ai in real time. So researchers can identify which areas are at risk. And help life underwater flourish. In my heart and in some way at least i save it on the screen. I felt that we will win, actually. Because our people even when war goes on will not stop us to growing flowers. What was it like going back to the theater . In some way nice feeling to go inside again. And also the smell of the building which you get every day when you worked. You remember. Yes, of course. The smell. Yes. When you go through dark the corridors you understand that now everything changed. When russians destroy ukrainian cities, they destroy not just some buildings or some stones or Something Like this. They destroy our childhood. Our memories. Our lives. Its like part of your life they just bring and take away. They break city at the same time they break people. And people try to repair it, make it alive again. Your father is there. Hes fighting near the front line. Are you afraid for him . When i came from ukraine, first it was difficult because i was so sad. When we were together there in ukraine with my family and heard the bombs and rockets, we thought that anything will happen, we will be together. And while youre here you feel that you are safe like the syndrome of the survivor. And its not a good feeling. Its better sorry. Its better to die together than separately. But it is what it is. Yes. Like i always tell the main word is were trying to continue. Theyre not military people. And i think its very important for them to feel that they also contribute. We feel a great responsibility that ukrainian ballet is also on a good level. So not just russian ballet is the best. Why . You didnt see us yet. We had tour with this giselle in different cities. In london. Dancing in United Ukrainian Ballet on different stages of the world is important for the dancers because they represent the country, they represent the culture of ukraine. Singapore. It looks like ukrainian flag. Really inspired me. We have our own battlefield. But its cultural battlefield. Soon theyll step onto the most consequential stage yet, in the country with the power to determine the fate of their nation. We constantly, we all are, were constantly thinking about ukraine, how we can help. In kyiv i met two dancers with the Ukrainian National ballet, olga and victor. I know that you know of them. And theyre staying and theyre trying to do their best to put on performances, and its really difficult. [ Air Raid Siren ] what does it say to you about the will of people and about those colleagues who are staying . They are really brave. They are really strong. People in audience can forget about war for several hours. And they give people some miracle world. Or add one on the side. Get a breakfast biscuit sandwich with a side for just Seven Dollars for a limited time. Each day is a unique blend of going, doing, and living. Glucerna protein smart with 30 grams of protein to help keep you moving. Uniquely designed with carbsteady to help manage blood sugar response. Glucerna, bring on the day. upbeat music constant contacts advanced automation lets you send the right message at the right time, every time. constant contact. Helping the small stand tall. That first time you take a step back. I made that. With your very own online store. I sold that. And you can manage it all in one place. I built this. And it was easy, with a partner that puts you first. Godaddy. 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[ Air Raid Siren ] attention. Air raid alert. Proceed to the nearest shelter. Dont be careless. Your overconfidence is your weakness. Each of us did a decision to stay here or to go. I decided to stay. Did you ever think of going to the front line . Some of the dancers did. Yeah, of course. I did. I did. The first days i came to the military recruitment. But i dont have any military experience. So they just said okay, if we need you we will call you. I think everyone has to choose what is right for him. It was amazing feeling. When i saw the people are coming. I understood that we are doing something that people really need. Do you feel also that you are defending Ukrainian Culture right now . Of course. Defending and i hope developing. For many years Ukrainian Culture was in the shadow of the russian culture. Did you know him . Do you feel that you are doing your bit to protect your country and to tell the world about your country by dancing, by having left, by not being on the front line . Im trying. Im trying. All our company try to represent our country that people will fall in love in our country and in our people. I think we want to in a good way with a soft weapon, we want to remind people that we still need help, please dont forget about us. I know that everything depends on us, on Ukrainian Armed forces, yet so much depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you. For United Ukrainian Ballet to be here in the heart, political heart of United States is very significant. Painful fingersticks, helps lower a1c, and is covered by medicare. Before using the dexcom g7, i was really frustrated. My a1c was stuck. female announcer dexcom g7 sends your Glucose Numbers to your phone or dexcom receiver without painful fingersticks. 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Wherever you stay. All you need is one key. Earn and use rewards across expedia, hotels. Com, and vrbo. President zelenskyy has been lobbying hard to get the west to send more military equipment. The message from president zelenskyy has been clear. They still need more weapons. Hundreds of thank you are not hundreds of thanks. Waiting for a decision from germany. Still asking the u. S. Weeks of geopolitical squabbling. Today we will have Test Performance of giselle. Yesterday i spoke with my mom. I actually sent poster of our performance. She always happy to see me per performing. In ballet art we strive for perfection. Perfection of lines. Of everything. So the hair was not perfectly prepared. Yeah. Its like being an olympic athlete. Because its physically very, very challenging. And on top of that afraid that shell disappear again. You have to act like an actor. You also listen to the music, respond to the music. Its endless process. You can never be good enough. This is my favorite step when they dance it. Me too. I love this step. Its quite fast. Its very beautiful, actually. I was really pleased. She gave much more. And he was like the best. So excited to do this. I know. Ukraine says that it is in a race against time. Since theyre a team of ukrainian refugees and im a child of refugees, this was like really close to my heart. Theres a very narrow window to help ukraine expel russia rather than just resist. We have Family Living in ukraine. And every day begins with telephoning and finding out if theyre still alive or not. It is extremely important that President Putin doesnt win this war. The consequences globally could not be higher. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Kennedy Center. [ applause ] what does it mean to you to be on stage and to dance, especially now . Dance, its our language. To show that were strong, were fighting, were powerful. To show that the support is the main thing that we need. It was very emotional just thinking about all the obstacles they had to face to come here. It was very moving. We feel support everywhere. [ applause ] actually, when we bring flag on the stage [ cheers and applause ] people explode. It moved me to tears. I was singing with them. Very loudly. Yes, we did. Its really beautiful anthem, actually. And this moment of fighting for our freedom, all our history is fighting for our freedom. Is it normal to have your National Anthem when you were in ukraine . No. No. But here its a statement. Yes. Its like the heart statement. [ cheers and applause ] scuit. Or add one on the side. Get a breakfast biscuit sandwich with a side for just Seven Dollars for a limited time. [its the final game, folks. This one wins the series. ] struck out with the cheap seats . Important things arent worth compromising. At farmers, we offer both Quality Insurance and great savings. crowd cheers here, take mine. 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Get way more into what youre into when you stream on the xfinity 10g network. This point, the tragedy of today in ukraine it is a beautiful moment in history because the ukraine has never been that united. And maybe its a renaissance. It is a reborn of the nations. We wanted to create peace for us, our company just to spread some feelings that only maybe ukrainians can feel. Since the war began, our world has changed a lot. Were now thankful for what we have. Every day. Were thankful that were alive. Im very getting very emotional. Just watching . Yes. Because they all have a story to tell each of them have a story to tell. But as a group, they can tell the whole story for the country. One dancer his father just escaped from the front line, seven people were there and five were killed. But every week there is something happening like this. Every week. Every week that news filters into this every week there is something happening. You know i watched a version of this at the kyiv nationals, National Theaters with the ballet there. There was one dancer olga and also a singer and it was remarkable also as a solo. [ speaking notwithstanding english lang nonenglish langua. ] the death toll on a russian strike on an Pharmacist Building is expected to rise. The strike held almost two dozen people including five children. As a Russian Missile went through their apartment. President Zelenskyy Anno announced, destroying an entire block. More than 9,000 civilians including 453 children have been killed in ukraine so far. [ nonenglish language ] ours could be a soothing medicine. It could be so good for the soul to heal. There is a lot of that to be done when ukraine wins. Ive no doubt it will. I want to be on victory day, there standing and cheering since my voice disappears. I will be, yes i will be screaming. [ nonenglish language ] if i was to ask you to describe ukraine in three words, what would you say . Freedom. Maybe its really easy. Joy. And love. Perfect. The United Ukrainian Ballet continues to perform around the world when they await the day they can return. Many told us they look forward to rebuilding their Ballet Culture and seeing it thrive once again