Kherson is arguably the worst place in war-torn Ukraine. Sitting directly on the zero line, the city endures relentless shelling and drone assaults meant to kill or maim children, parents, workers — anyone. Over time, the vast majority of its inhabitants have vanished, until all that remains is the ghost of a once-vibrant city. But then I met a dance teacher named Alyona — so brave, so unpretentious, so undramatic. “I will never leave Kherson,” she told me. “I was born here. This is my city. I’m not a hero or anything like that. My mission is to make sure my students are happy when they dance, that’s all.”
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DdN – Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Let me start with a stupid question : how are you today ?
A – I’m fine, actually.
DdN – Seeing you dance in Zarina Zabrisky’s film Kherson: Human Safari made me curious about your story — how did dance become part of your life?
A – I started dancing in primary school, then in secondary school, and later at university. As a matter of fact I’ve never stopped dancing. But if we talk about teaching, then I started in middle school. Teaching is the perfect trick to get people dancing around you.
DdN – You have the body of a ballerina but your field is modern dance. What is your training background ?
A – Funny you should say that because I’ve never had any classical training. Hip-hop was my one and only teacher. (Laughter)
DdN – Were you aiming to join any particular company back then?
A – At seventeen, my friends and I went ahead and started our own company in Kherson. I also had the opportunity to audition in Kyiv, to become a professional. But then I realised that my dream, in a professional sense, was different.
DdN – You’re not only a dancer, you’re also a dentist. There’s a very funny word in Ukrainian — шпагат, the “splits”, le grand écart. How on earth did you manage that split between dance and dentistry ?
A – As a child I was the one in charge of my family’s teeth. (Laughter) I naturally set myself the goal of becoming a dentist. This passion proved stronger than dance, at least professionally.
DdN – You’re a dentist in Kherson. Kherson isn’t exactly the easiest place in the world to live in. How do you manage with everything happening around you?
A – I guess my task is to show my students that there is more to life than war. I’m not a hero or anything like that. My mission is to make sure they are happy when they dance, that’s all.
DdN – Who are your students? I mean, what are they like?
A – I welcome anyone in my class. I don’t really care about technical abilities. Teenagers, young women, ladies in their fifties…
DdN – All women ?
A – Yes.
DdN – Are there many dance classes in Kherson at the moment?
A – In the city center, I’m the only teacher left. [The center is one of the most exposed parts of the city.] Otherwise, you can still find classes in the more remote districts.
DdN – We talk about war but you live here. You know better than anyone what it’s like. Is there anything you feel is lacking in our perception and understanding of this war ?
A – Maybe it’s a Ukrainian thing, but I really dislike being treated as a victim. There’s no need to make things more dramatic than they already are. I can only hope that no one ever has to live through what we are living through.
DdN – You could easily live somewhere else. What makes Kherson so special to you?
A – I travelled a lot, even to the Côte d’Azur [Alyona’s mother is a French teacher], but this is my native city. I just can’t leave my native city. This is where I should be.
DdN – What projects are you working on at the moment?
A – Right now ? I’m focusing on Zarina’s new film on Kherson. I’m so glad we get to keep doing this project together.
DdN – I’m sure your contribution will be just as brilliant as in the first one. I know you have a lot of work today. Thank you so much for your time and kindness.
Kherson, Ukraine, 20 November 2025, 11am.
This interview was made possible thanks to the generous support of Zarina Zabrisky and to my fixer and friend Sergii Kharchuk. The cover photo of this article is taken from Zarina Zabrisky’s film, Kherson : Human Safari. Watch the film – and Alyona dancing – here.
Photo : Alyona, personal archive.
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