DisPLAYced

Presentation

DisPLAYced is inspired by the children we met when travelling to Ukraine. They are extraordinarily capable and far older than their years. They can study in shelters, recognise drones and missiles by sound, pack their belongings in one minute, run to an underground car park, move quietly through danger, and escape damaged homes.
The most terrible thing is that children should never have to know how to do any of this.
The project asks what it means when such a childhood begins to feel normal. This is not only a Ukrainian reality. It concerns children growing up in war-affected regions across the world. We must not become accustomed to it. The true measure of a civilisation is its ability to protect its most vulnerable members. If we cannot protect children, we must ask ourselves where we are going.
This production is an international two-act dance production bringing together choreographers and artists from different countries around this urgent theme. The child is the central character of the evening: the child’s imagination, memories and inner world before war, the moment military reality enters that world, and the journey that follows.
Through classical and contemporary dance, visual theatre, real human stories and the presence of children on stage, the performance travels through play, fantasy, fear, loss, trust and recovery. The body becomes a universal language, able to express what words cannot, beyond nationality, spoken language and time.
The project is connected to Ptakha Camp in Ukraine, where more than 4,000 children affected by war have already taken part in programmes of rest, rehabilitation and emotional recovery. The camp provides a real, proven model of support.
We cannot stop the war through dance. But we can refuse to look away. We can draw attention to what is happening, create practical support, and help children learn how to live without losing themselves.

Artistic Team

Ukrainian International Ballet leads DisPLAYced through a multidisciplinary Ukrainian and international team selected for both artistic excellence and direct connection to the project’s social purpose. Kseniia Novikova, Ukrainian, is the project initiator, artistic lead and executive producer. A former soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine and founder of UIB, she develops the overall vision, brings together the artistic and social partners, and oversees fundraising, partnerships and delivery. Vladyslava Kovalenko, Ukrainian, is UIB’s Artistic Director. She coordinates the rehearsal process, supports the integration of the different choreographic works. Dmytro Borodai, Ukrainian, is a choreographer and dancer. His work brings a contemporary Ukrainian voice to the production. He contributes to the choreographic development, works directly with the professional cast and supports the creation of material involving veterans and young performers. Iryna Khutorianska, Ukrainian, is responsible for communication and community participation. She leads and will help prepare and support Ukrainian refugee children artistic involvement in the production. Iratxe Ansa, Spanish, and Igor Bacovich, Italian, are the founders and artistic directors of the Madrid-based Metamorphosis Dance. They were selected for their powerful physical language and belief in movement as a transformative human force. Their work adds a distinct contemporary voice to the production and strengthens its multinational character. OpenDoorUkraine is the project’s Dutch social-impact partner. Robert Serry, Dutch, Chairman and co-founder, connects the production to Ptakha Camp and supports transparent coordination of the funds and practical results in Ukraine. A dramaturg, child-safeguarding specialist, designers and technical team will complete the project team. Their final names will be announced once appointments and contracts are confirmed.

Partners