Ukrainian Soloist, Ekaterina Floria to perform at the Bonus Arena, Hull
Published: 21 October 2022
For the first time in the UK, this ballet company is from Moldova with dancers from many different countries all over the world, including Ukraine. We have had a rare opportunity to ask how a ballet dancer from Ukraine been dealing with their challenges in the last 6 months.
Ekaterina Floria was born in Mariupol, Ukraine. After successfully graduating from ballet academy she was accepted right away to the Donbass Ballet Theatre. Thanks to her great dedication and talent, she danced her way up to and became the principal ballerina at the theatre which gave her the opportunity to tour the whole world. She continued to show success on stage and this was rewarded when she was invited to join the Mariinsky Theatre in 2016 as a soloist where she stayed until recently.
Interviewer: What makes you jump out of your bed every morning?
Ekaterina: To wake up in the morning and see the sun.
Interviewer: What is your favourite role to dance to this moment?
Ekaterina: To this day, I have danced many different ballet roles and the one that I loved dancing the most was a role of Phaedra, Death in a ballet staged by Ronald Petit, “Le Jeune Homme et la Mort”.
Interviewer: What are you thinking about while you're dancing?
Ekaterina: When dancing I completely try no to think much as it helps me relax and fall into the role I am dancing so that the audience get to experience the true character of the role.
Interviewer: Favourite Ballet?
Ekaterina: I have a very long list, however, these ones here definitely stand out the most. Fleming Flindt’s “Phaedra”, “Carmen” and “The young man and the Death”. Alexei Ratmansky ’s “The Little Humpbacked Horse”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Bayadere” and “Romeo and Juliette”.
Interviewer: If you could dance anywhere in the world (not just theatre) where would it be?
Ekaterina: I love the snow and mountains, so it has to be in the Swiss Alps.
Interviewer: Tell us something about yourself that no one knows.
Ekaterina: I am always in doubt, which makes my life sometimes more complicated.
Interviewer: How do you relax after performance?
Ekaterina: Usually, simply laying down and eating something tasty, does the job very well for me.
Interviewer: Favourite Ballet dancer?
Ekaterina: Oh, this question is hard to answer in one sentence as it really depends on role and the ballet itself. I adore, for example, Svetlana Zakharova as Margarite in “Lady of Camelias” and as Mehmene Banu in “The Legend of Love”. I very much like Viktoria Tereshkina as Kitri and as Odette-Odilie. Ekaterina Kondaurova I love in all the neoclassical roles. And many old school ballerinas like Tatiana Terekhova, Galina Mezentceva, Lubov Kunakova and the unique Sylvie Guillem.
Interviewer: If you could take anyone to dinner who would you take?
Ekaterina: Given the current situation in the world, it would be my husband and my son.
Interviewer: What’s your life motto?
Ekaterina: Enjoy life and do the things you love!
Interviewer: We know that you are from Mariupol in Ukraine. How have you been dealing with having to leave your home and your theatre?
Ekaterina: Yes, I was born in Mariupol in Ukraine. But I had to leave my hometown to study ballet at the age of 12. Of course, I am very sad that my hometown became so famous for the wrong reasons in the world. I am feeling very disappointed about all the bad things happening at the moment and very upset that I had to leave my theatre as it was a great place to work at.
Tickets are now on sale for Swan Lake which will visit the Bonus Arena, Hull on Saturday, 12 November 2023. Book your tickets here.