Ukrainian Lindy Hoppers Call for Ban on Russian Participation in Swing Events

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This weekend, I had the opportunity to talk with Vitalia Brukhanska, a Ukrainian lindy hop instructor based in Kyiv, along with a small group of dancers. This was part of an online workshop sponsored by Collective Voices for Change on how we create swing events that are true to our shared values.

Vitalia told our group about how difficult the war has been on her and her family, who were forced to flee the country. “Two of my students were killed,” she told us, solemnly.

Today, Vitalia and 25 other Ukrainian lindy hoppers, representing 11 clubs and schools, issued a call to action in support of Ukraine via Facebook. it’s an impassioned and direct appeal:

“we, the swing dance schools of Ukraine, ask the European and world swing schools to stop any cooperation with Russia as a state, as well as with the dancers (however famous and distinguished they are), judges, coaches, event organizers who are citizens of the Russian Federation.”

In summary, the group is calling for the following actions:

  • Suspend Russia's participation in international dance events such as festivals, camps, competitions, and cups (with exceptions detailed in the Appendix)

  • Boycott events organized by Russian state institutions and citizens.

  • Refuse any donations, funding or sponsorships from Russian organizations, their proxies and affiliates, even if they are based in third countries.

The full text of the appeal is pasted below.

FULL TEXT OF MESSAGE FROM UKRAINIAN LINDY HOPPERS

(with minor formatting edits for clarity)

An Open Letter of Ukrainian Swing Dance Schools

To Swing Dancers of the World

In connection with the death of Ukrainian swing dancers Oleksandr Kolesnik and Roman Solonynka who were killed in war started by Russia

Dear friends!

On February, 24 2022 at 5 am, the armed forces of the Russian Federation started a full-scale invasion into Ukrainian territory. This completely unprovoked attack, which as of May 2, according to official UN data, already claimed the lives of 3,193 civilians (an average of 45 deaths per day), causing massive destruction of hospitals, schools, civilian infrastructure and architectural heritage. Explosions, bombings, air strikes hit all major cities of Ukraine. The aggressor's tanks and heavy artillery crossed the Ukrainian border from the north, south and east. On February 27, 2022, Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. A war of such magnitude has not been seen in Europe since 1945.

In this war, defending our homeland from Russian invaders, our friends, members of the dance community Olexander Kolesnik and Roman Solonynka were killed in action. Therefore, as a community of swing dancers of Ukraine, we ask for solidarity and support of the whole free world.

We are grateful to our allies for imposing economic and political sanctions on the Russian Federation. We are grateful to the IOC for recommending that Russia be excluded from all sporting events. We are grateful to the WRRC for canceling competitions in Russia and banning Russian athletes from performing.

However, we now see Russia and Russians continuing to exploit the argument that ‘sport / culture / art are outside politics’ to justify, downplay and divert the world's attention from their countless war crimes, violations of human rights and international law. Meanwhile, 83% of Russians support the actions of their president and, consequently, the war against Ukraine. Russia's actions are a danger to the whole world, as they are based on colonial and imperial heritage, propaganda of aggression, alienation, and intolerance. Russia has destroyed the very foundation on which social dancing is standing - the joy of life, freedom, respect - so no one can trust Russia or its citizens anymore.

In this regard, we, the swing dance schools of Ukraine, ask the European and world swing schools to stop any cooperation with Russia as a state, as well as with the dancers (however famous and distinguished they are), judges, coaches, event organizers who are citizens of the Russian Federation*.

Suspend Russia's participation in international dance events such as festivals, camps, competitions, and cups.

Boycott events organized by Russian state institutions and citizens, as well as international funds that are directly or indirectly tied to Russian citizens or financed by Russian capital.

Refuse any donations, funding or sponsorships from Russian organizations, their proxies and affiliates, even if they are based in third countries.

You will help Ukraine if you stop any cooperation with the Russian Federation and its citizens, as well as publicly voice your decision to encourage others to follow example.

Please stand up for truth and justice - the values ​​that Ukraine is defending right now. It is impossible to tolerate evil, and leaving it unpunished is suicidal.

We applaud all European organizations that have already taken their stance by choosing ethics and freedom. We warmly support those who are consistent in their statements and actions. We believe that the better world we want to live in depends on the actions of each of us.

06.05.2022

Signatures of dance school leaders, festival organizers:

Kyiv Swing Dance Club (Kyiv)

Taras Melnyk

Larysa Glikina

Vitalia Brukhanska

Hot Boogie Club (Kyiv)

Mariia Titova

Serhii Bezuhlyi

Serhii Kovaliov

Taras Novokhatko

Anna Bedina

Rock Dance Studio (Kyiv)

Maksym Bolhov

Kyiv Rebel Dance (Kyiv)

Arkadiia Polianska

SWAY (Kyiv)

Ievheniia Tsvetkova

Iryna Ishchuk

Kokolyada Jazz Lab (Kyiv)

Tetyana Koliada

Sports and Choreography Club ‘Tantsdem’ (Kyiv)

Oleksandr Geifman

Iryna Okhrimenko

Serhii Andriiko

Fast Feet Club (Kharkiv)

Zhanna Zanochkina

Jazz Vibes (Kyiv)

Dmytro Rohov

Jazz Age show (Kyiv)

Olha Smirnova

Oleksandr Remez

Lindy hop and solo jazz teacher (Dnipro)

Yuliia Nummur

Space Swing Dnipro (Dnipro)

Mariia Vynarska

Julia Gulitska

Polina Hordiienko

Anastasiia Bulavina

*exceptions in Appendix 1 below

Appendix 1

We are convinced that the only proof of a person's position is not their wishes, hesitations, aspirations or thoughts, but their actions. For Russian citizens who say they do not support their country's war against Ukraine, these actions are as follows:

  • they do not reside in Russia as of the date of publication of this letter, having a residence permit of other countries;

  • they organized or participated in demonstrations and protests against the war of Russia in Ukraine (and have proof of it) before the date of publication of this letter;

  • they are the authors or signatories of open letters to the Russian authorities, where they directly condemn Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and demand to stop military activities immediately;

  • they financially supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine before the date of publication of this letter;

  • they engaged in charity or volunteering (not in Russia) for the benefit of Ukrainian refugees or victims of the war before the date of publication of this letter;

  • they have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine;

  • they publicly and directly spread information about Russia's war against Ukraine (and can prove it) before the date of publication of this letter;

At least one of the points listed above, if confirmed, is a true testament to the anti-war position of Russian citizens. These citizens should be seen as those who share the values ​​of the free world. They need to be accepted in Europe and the world as equals.

The rest of Russia's citizens will be able to return to the community of civilized countries when the Russian troops withdraw completely from the entire territory of Ukraine within the borders recognized by international law, once all reparations are paid, and war criminals are convicted and punished.