Natali (46)

Monday, March 14, 2022, Bratislava. Day 18 of the war. 

...Our escape lasted 7 days, of which 5 days we had nowhere to wash...

"My daughter is a professional ballerina. She is 17 years old and she toured the Baltic countries with an ensemble with the performance Swan Lake in the autumn. On this tour, they even collaborated with a ballet group from St. Petersburg, Russia, performing together in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and finally they were in the Czech Republic in December. I'm not a ballerina, but my whole life revolves around ballet. I attend every training, every daughter's internship. When we are told we need to go somewhere, I immediately pack up and support my daughter. She loves this type of art very much, we have asked her to stop, but she does not want to give up ballet. As a mother, I can't deny my child something that gives her fulfilment and gratification. At least this is now a way to protect her from the war. She really wants to go back to her brother and father, who stayed at home. There is no ballet school in Slovakia that my daughter could attend. We have managed to find a place for her to train here. Tomorrow we will have the first training here in Slovakia, we will wait how the situation in America develops. We were promised help there."

"We have contacted a number of ballet schools throughout Europe. But most schools couldn't help us out. However, Irina, the local school's principal and artistic director, responded quickly to our request, giving our daughter the opportunity to attend their trainings. I am very grateful to her for that. However, the biggest thanks goes to an American company that found us and contacted us, providing us with a safe trip to Miami, where there is an excellent ballet school. There, my daughter could train and develop further. I want the world to know about these good deeds."

"We came together to Slovakia a few days ago. Our escape lasted 7 days, of which 5 days we had nowhere to wash. All this time we were wearing clothes that we wore when we left. We hope that the war will end soon so that we will be able to return home and that we would not have to burden Europe with our presence. We would rather come here for a visit than add worry to everyone. We would rather dance, eat, sing together with you than having to experience this. Honestly, crossing the border was not disgraceful at all. Everybody is inviting and being helpful. We don't feel unwelcome. You come to the gas station and they give you free coffee. Not because you can't afford it, but people sincerely want to help you with the little things. Strangers on the street gave money to my friend in Poland. They said that they did not want to offend her, but that they wanted to help somehow at least. Big thanks to everyone!"