Company History
Years of art, traditions, and worldwide recognition
Company Foundation
UCB Ballet Company was founded in 2017 by Ivan Zhuravlov in Kyiv with the mission of assembling the brightest dancers and presenting them on the world's leading stages.
Conquering Europe
During its debut season, UCB Ballet Company gave over 85 acclaimed performances in Europe, appearing in Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, and Poland.
Inspired by Music
In the 2019 season, the UCB presented its first productions accompanied by a symphony orchestra under the baton of conductor Sergei Golubichy.
Unbroken by Covid
Throughout the global pandemic, UCB Ballet Company remained unbroken and continued its work without interruption. The Company held regular classes for its artists and provided opportunities for guest dancers who had lost the ability to sustain their professional careers.
Return to the Grand Stage
After a forced pause, UCB made a triumphant return with Swan Lake on October 2, 2021, at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre — a powerful statement that the art of ballet endures.
Synergy with Contemporary Dance
UCB intensified its work in contemporary dance, adding to its repertoire "Romeo and Juliet" and "Quatro" — choreographed by Edward Clug — as well as "The Great Gatsby Ballet" by Dwight Rhoden (Complexions Contemporary Ballet, New York). These productions won the hearts of audiences worldwide and have since become landmarks of contemporary dance.
The First 500
This season UCB reached the milestone of 500 performances — a landmark the Company had no intention of stopping at.
Expanding the Map
UCB has now performed in more than 26 countries, including Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Switzerland, Italy, and China.
Growing at Scale
In response to overwhelming demand, UCB has expanded its operations by launching additional touring casts capable of presenting productions simultaneously across multiple venues. In December 2025 alone, two company casts delivered more than 65 performances of The Nutcracker.
Heritage and Future
Over the years of its existence, UCB Ballet Company has become a symbol of the highest mastery and artistic perfection. We carefully preserve the traditions of the great masters of the past and boldly look to the future, creating productions that move contemporary audiences.
Our mission is to give people beauty, inspiration, and faith in the power of art. Every performance is a meeting with beauty that remains in the heart forever.