Siam Spencer 06:28, April 22, 2022
Ukrainian refugees have been hired as dancers by the Achille Zavatta circus.
At the Grand Cirque Royal Zavatta in the car park of the Hippodrome de Reims, new artists have arrived over the past fortnight… A Ukrainian singer and four dancers have fled the war and have been hired by the circus.
Days punctuated by the anguish of losing a loved one and the performances that follow one another.
REPORT
Ilona's voice resounds under the white marquee.
She sings of her country that she left behind.
At his side, his four Ukrainian colleagues shudder listening to this hymn of resistance.
Phone in hand, worried about their loved ones, they live to the rhythm of bomb threats in their country.
"Maybe we won't have parents anymore"
"Now we live day by day. We don't know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe we won't have a home. Maybe we won't have parents anymore," she confides into the microphone. d'Europe 1. The costumes and sequins contrast with their stories.
Alina traveled from the Donbass, at the heart of the conflict... When she talks about her parents who remained in Ukraine, her voice breaks, so it's Anastasia who says for her: "Her parents stayed. They didn't no electricity, no water, no food."
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"We didn't want them to be alone"
Over the shows, they try to rebuild themselves together explains Christophe Herry, artistic director of the circus... "We didn't want them to be alone. They are in groups, they can stick together if you want because in the evening when there is an attack on the Donbass, she can share her fears her fears with her colleagues."
These artists will continue the shows until May 1 in Reims, but always, the spirit turned towards Ukraine more than 2,000 km away.