MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the owners of a ballet school in Manatee County took action to rebrand in solidarity with their native country.
After being known as the "School of Russian Ballet" for more than a decade, Sergiy Mykhaylov and Darya Fedotova changed the school's name to the "International Ballet of Florida" amid the conflict overseas.
"In light of the recent events in our home country of Ukraine, we’d like to announce a new name. Thank you to those who have supported us these past few days, your love and well wishes speak volumes," the ballet school's Facebook page read on Feb. 28.
Messages of support for Ukrainians in the war-torn country can be seen across the International Ballet of Florida's website and social media pages.
"We are Ukrainians who Stand with Ukraine," one such message reads.
According to Mykhaylov and Fedotova, the rebrand does not change the work being done at the ballet school, and it will continue to train in the Vaganova method.
"It's very simple because Russia is killing Ukrainians, killing people, not just Ukrainians," Mykhaylov said of the name change decision.
"How can we keep this name, this is an aggressor, this is fascism, I have nothing against the Russian people but it's absolutely wrong," added Fedotova, explaining the name change was necessary.
The International Ballet of Florida released the following statement on the rebranding:
"After 12 years, we announce a new name. A name that shows that we support our beautiful homeland of Ukraine and our families. What doesn't change is our passion for teaching and reputation for creating new works to bring to our audiences. We continue to provide the same high quality training in the Vaganova method that is known throughout the world to the Sarasota/Bradenton area. Ballet is an art form that unites people of all nationalities and we look forward to the future together with you as we embark under this new name."
"We're going to continue with the Vaganova method, we're going to continue with the Russian method because we think it's the best, and that's what we know and how we know (learned) it," Fedotova said.
The couple said while ballet has united people from many backgrounds across the world, including Russian and Ukrainian dancers, the war is bringing division.
"Russians and Ukrainians were like brother and sister, they were like this, like one nation but one guy made it not to be in a good way," Mykhaylov said.