From the recording Balletomane
Oleksandr Shapoval, beloved Principal ballet dancer and choreographer with the National Opera of Ukraine, left the company’s tour in Paris to volunteer in the Ukraine military upon hearing that Russia had invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He died in the war in September of the same year. He was the father of two teenagers, husband, teacher. He was described as a “reliable friend” and “sincere human being”. He was bestowed the “Honoured Artist of Ukraine” merit.
Balletomane by definition is a ballet enthusiast. What would Oleksandr say to his fans? This song tells that story. One extraordinary human story that is one of so many. So much has been lost.
Lyrics
Verse 1
I am a dancer in a strange costume,
This gun that I’m holding, it should be a woman
This stage is massive, goes on forever, no curtain closes. The show must go on.
Chorus 1
People would pay to see me plié,
Jumping and spinning the stage
Now I’m jumping and spinning over the graves
Verse 2
Remember Petrushka, Misha Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev
Why I’m a dancer
I wanted to be strong, I wanted to live long
And teach younger dancers how to move through the air
Chorus 2
People would sigh when they’d see me fly, how did I go so high?
Now I send rockets into the sky
Verse 3
I am a lover, gentle and thoughtful
But I am a strong one, my art is my body
Bridge
So I have stepped in some foreign brave skin
My arms are like engines firing on the horizon
Chorus 3
There’ll come a time when you’ll stand in line
To see how I will turn-out. Balletomane, I promise I’ll see you again
Verse 4
Where does this stage end? Where is the horizon?
That I will dance on, when I will dance on