On March 3, 2022, the crew of major Russian news station, TV Rain, ended their final broadcast by walking off set as the channel cut to a clip of Swan Lake, a subtle dig at Russia's historical use of the ballet to cover up moments of government instability during the Cold War. Other independent media outlets were also shut down by the State following their critical coverage of the conflict in Ukraine. Now, Russian’s who condemn the actions of their government have reclaimed the classic as a way to protest media censorship, graffiting feathered dancers onto buildings throughout Moscow.

In the West, governments have condemned the invasion by way of cultural sanctions. Many European countries have ordered cultural institutions to cut ties with Russian state bodies. These actions, though an attempt to show solidarity against a foreign power that represents oppression and elitism, often prove unproductive when it comes to enacting real political change. 

Ballet has long been a source of international pride for the nation, serving as a model of cultural superiority and a tool for diplomatic relations, acclaimed by former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev as Russia’s “secret weapon,” according to The Guardian. During the Cold War, ballet companies traveled across both sides of the Iron Curtain, finding common respect on the stage. Curator and columnist Anton Svyatsky accredits art which, “gave Russians hope that they could overcome authoritarianism,” as opportunities abroad became their only free outlet.

Yet today, Western society has chosen to cut off cultural ties with Russia, thus deepening tensions. Amid cancellations of international tours by Russian state ballet companies, several artists have been displaced, forced to leave their homes behind or compromise their morality. Western choreographers have also decided to pull productions from Russian stages. This lack of international influx is sure to stunt the development of the art form. In addition, these performative sanctions eliminate Russians ability to criticize their government without actually placing any pressure on to politicians.

Those who support the ban of Russian art proclaim that State ballet companies have always served political purposes and must be boycotted to limit Russia’s power abroad. This argument fails to recognize that it is not the government but citizens who are affected. Countries’ reactionary tendencies limit Russia's access to outside influences, thus we are complicit in the censorship. These artistic crackdowns benefit Putin more by limiting the information his people have access to.

While these actions are taken with good intention, we should be putting our concern and resources in other places. Our tendency to react impulsively towards injustices is clearly highlighted here and is certainly not an effective method for approaching peace. We must not let the curtain fall between our worlds once again.

Works Cited

Aronson, V., Deliso, M., & Mielke, B. (2022, April 29) How ‘Swan Lake’ became a symbol of protest in Russia.

abc News. abcnews.go.com/International/swan-lake-symbol-protest-russia/story?id=84401801

Delangle, J. (2022, October 28) ‘Cultural Sanctions’: the Art World Responds to the War in Ukraine.

Catalyst. catalystmcgill.com/cultural-sanctions-the-art-world-responds-to-the-war-in-ukraine/

Marshall, A. (2022, April 15) War Brings New Iron Curtain Down on Russia’s Storied Ballet Stages.

The New York Times. nytimes.com/2022/04/15/arts/olga-smirnova-ballet-bolshoi-ukraine-war.html?searchResultPosition=1

Winship, L. (2022, March 17) Dancers and dissidents: how ballet became a political football between east and west.

The Guardian.

theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/17/dancers-and-dissidents-how-ballet-became-a-political-football-between-east-and-west