01/20/2026
At the beginning of the year, we would like to share one of our recent deliveries. HUCUS Foundation has recently completed the delivery of 1,800 pointe shoes and 1,300 flat ballet shoes to major theaters and ballet schools across Ukraine — the donation valued at over $250,000 USD.
This large-scale initiative became possible through the inspiring project “Ballet Shoes for Ukraine,” organized by volunteers Alexei and Tatiana Ratmansky, Denys Drozdyuk, and Antonina Skobina, and supported by dozens of world-renowned ballet companies and individual dancers who chose to stand with Ukrainian culture during wartime.
At HUCUS, we focus on humanitarian logistics — ensuring that critical aid reaches Ukraine safely and reliably. This project reflects the diversity of our work. Our logistics team coordinated transportation from the United States to Ukraine and further distribution across five cities and eight institutions.
Even amid destruction, Ukrainian artists continue to rehearse, teach, and perform under air-raid sirens. Schools keep children connected to discipline, beauty, and hope. Delivering ballet shoes is a reminder that culture endures, even in the darkest times.
The delivery reached leading institutions in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv, including:
National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine (Kyiv)Національна опера України імені Т. Г. Шевченка
Kyiv Municipal Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Київська опера
Kyiv State Professional Choreographic College
Kyiv Modern-Ballet KYIV MODERN-BALLET Theatre
Lviv National Opera Львівська Національна Опера / Lviv National Opera
Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Одеська Національна Опера / Odesa National Opera
Dnipro Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Дніпровський академічний театр опери та балету
Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater ХНАТОБ / СХІД OPERA
Theaters and schools shared their gratitude, noting that these shoes are essential for daily rehearsals, premieres, tours, and for sustaining the life of Ukrainian ballet during wartime.
We extend heartfelt thanks to the ballet companies that contributed, including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Juilliard School, Philadelphia Ballet, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet West, Ballet Hispánico, Brooklyn Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and many others.
Special appreciation goes to individual dancers — Wendy Whelan, Christina Shevchenko, Skylar Brandt, Oksana Maslova, Andrii Ishchuk, Aaron Bell, Virginia Lensi, and others — whose generosity became a powerful gesture of solidarity.
We are also deeply grateful to:
Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Manhattan for providing storage space
The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York and The Ukrainian Institute of America for ongoing support
All volunteers, donors, and partners who contributed to this cultural mission
HUCUS Foundation remains committed to supporting Ukraine also by helping preserve the cultural strength and spirit of its people.
📸 by: , Opera Dnipro, Tetiana Yurchenko
