These dancers fled the war. Their journeys are just beginning.

Much of the work to find new homes for Ukrainian students is led by the New York-based Youth American Grand Prix, an organization that runs competitions to help dancers secure scholarships. It was scheduled to hold its first event in Ukraine in March. Larisa Saveliev, co-founder of the organization and a former Bolshoi dancer, said that when the war in Russia began, she sent an email to 50 or so 50 dancers who had registered to say, “If you want help, let me know. me ”.

How the war in Ukraine affects the cultural world

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Valentin Silvestrov. The most famous living composer in Ukraine, Mr. Silvestrov made his way from his home in Kyiv to Berlin, where he now lives. In recent weeks, his comforting music has gained new significance for listeners in his war-torn country.

Alexey Ratmansky. The choreographer, who grew up in Kyiv, was preparing a new ballet at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow when the invasion began, and immediately decided to leave Moscow. The ballet, whose premiere is scheduled for March 30, has been postponed indefinitely.

Soon her mobile phone was handed over to dancers in Ukraine and she was called day and night, often by students who arrived at the Polish border alone, some without passports. Saveliev said they would simply ask, “Where should I go?” She eavesdropped on her contacts and then sent them across Europe to schools, including La Scala in Milan and the John Cranco School in Stuttgart.

About two months after the war, calls have not stopped, Saveliev said. “In the beginning, it was a humanitarian effort,” Saveliev said. “All we thought about was ‘Let’s find a bed for these children.’ Now we have to think about their education.”

Saveliev said it was difficult to bring students to the United States because of the long visa process, although she managed to place two students who already had visas in American schools. “We have at least 50 schools willing to accept Ukrainian dancers; we just can’t get them here, “she said. “I’m trying.” (British ballet schools also cannot accept students due to strict visa rules, Saveliev added.)

Despite the visa situation, at least one American ballet company is trying to help. On May 4, lawyers working for the Miami City Ballet applied for a visa for Yulia Moskalenko, 28, director of the National Ballet of Ukraine, to join the company.