Kateryna Ihorivna Kukhar (, born 18 January 1982, Kyiv) is a Ukrainian prima ballerina of the National Opera of Ukraine. She has been awarded the titles Merited Artist of Ukraine (since 2012) and People's Artist of Ukraine (since 2018).
She started ballet lessons at the age of five. Without a qualifying round, Kateryna was invited to be part of an already established gymnastics group at the local youth center â the Palace of Pioneers.
In 1992, she entered Kyiv State Ballet School, formerly known as Kyiv Choreographic College (class of Tatiana Tayakina, People's Artiste of the USSR). After just two years of studies, Kateryna was awarded a diploma of the 2nd Ukrainian Festival of Arts ëÃÂÃÂàüø ôÃÂÃÂø ÃÂòþÃÂ, ãúÃÂðÃÂýþû.
In 1997, Kateryna won the prize at the International Dance Competition Prix de Lausanne and was invited to do internship in Lausanne, Switzerland.
At the age of 16, Kateryna made her first appearance as Masha in the "Nutcracker" ballet at the Bunka Kaikan Concert Hall in Japan. Valeriy Petrovich Kovtun, the choreographer who was working in Japan at that time, trusted the young ballerina to play the part.
In 1999, she graduated with high honors and distinction from Kyiv State Ballet School under the tutelage of the principal, Tatyana Alekseevna Tayakina, the People's Artiste of the USSR.
In the course of her career, Kateryna Kukhar has had support and collaboration of the following ballet teachers, People's Artists of Ukraine and the USSR: Valery Kovtun, Lyudmila Smorgacheva, Nikolai Pryadchenko, Eleonora Steblyak, Raisa Hilko, Elvira Tarasova, Abdyev Recepmyrat.
Among Kateryna's ballet partners are Aleksandr Stoyanov, Leonid Sarafanov, Joseph Gatti, Bakhtiyar Adamjan, Eris Nezha, a principal dancer at the Paris Opéra Garnier, Quer Jérémy-Loup; a principal dancer at Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Coviello.
In 1999 after graduating from Kyiv State Ballet School, Kateryna received invitations to work in Madrid Royal Theater, Japanese National Ballet and the National Opera of Ukraine. The ballerina accepted the proposal to join the troupe of the National Opera of Ukraine. She has toured Europe, Canada, United States, Japan, Korea, China and other countries. She is a jury member of international ballet competitions and festivals. She is an international dance instructor. At the National Opera of Ukraine, Kateryna dances leading roles in virtually the entire repertoire.
Kateryna has taken part in many international festivals, including but not limited to Aoyama Ballet Festival (Japan), Fresh Ballerina Festival (Japan), International Festival of Modern Choreography (Ukraine), the Serge Lifar Festival, IV Miedzynarodowa gala baletowa (Poland), Days of Culture Andorra â Ukraine (Kyiv), Ohrid International Festival (Macedonia).
After Serge Lifar, Kateryna Kukhar was the first Ukrainian ever to be invited to Paris Ballet Conservatory to be a member of the jury at the state exam.
2010 â âÂÂStars of the World Balletâ (Donetsk);
2011 â âÂÂGala Ballet Helps Japanâ (Berlin);
2011 â âÂÂUkraine-Polandâ (Kraków);
2012 â âÂÂStars of the World Balletâ (Odesa);
2012 â First International Art Festival;
2013 â Anniversary evening of Andris Liepa (Chelyabinsk and Saint Petersburg, Oktyabrskiy Big Concert Hall);
2013 â Gala concert âÂÂBallet Masterpiecesâ of Faruh Ruzimatov in Japan;
2015 â Member of the jury at the International Ballet Festival-Competition Tanzolimp in Berlin;
2015 â International Ballet Festival in Riga, the 20th Anniversary edition;
2015âÂÂ2016 â Member of the jury at the Seoul International Ballet Competition;
2016 â Gala concert in Seoul at the International Ballet Competition;
2016 â âÂÂFestival Internacional de la Cultura MayaâÂÂ;
2017 â Ballet gala nights at Augsburg and Stockholm;
2017 â Grand Gala âÂÂElisa y amigosâ in Mexico.
2017 and 2018 â workshops on classical ballet lesson and duet at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris.
2018 â workshop on classical ballet lesson in the US at the International Ballet Theater.
In 2017, Kateryna got an invitation from the 1+1 TV Channel to become one of the judges at the Ukrainian version of âÂÂDancing with the Starsâ TV show (âÂÂâðýÃÂà÷ ÃÂÃÂÃÂúðüøâÂÂ), together with Dmitry Monatik and Vlad Yama. In 2018, she was invited again to be a judge in Season 2. Kateryna was a member of the panel of judges for the show in Season 4 (2017), Season 5 (2018), Season 6 (2019) and Season 8 (2021). She was also a guest judge for Season 7 (2020).
In 2020 and 2021, Kateryna Kukhar was invited to take the honorary post of a member of the selection committee at the country's first theater, the National Opera of Ukraine.
In 2021, Katerina Kukhar became a member of the Presidential Scholarship Commission.
In 2014, Prima Ballerina Kateryna Kukhar was invited to the Palais des Congrès in Paris to perform the role of Juliet with her partner, People's Artiste of Ukraine Aleksandr Stoyanov in the âÂÂRomeo and Julietâ ballet. The Concert Hall seats 3723 people. Performances were sold-out. The pair of Kateryna and Aleksandr alternated with the pair of principal dancers of the Mariinsky Theater Evgenia Obraztsova and her partner. During one week at the Palais des Congrès, the dancers performed six shows for the French audience. Each pair did three shows. Each night was a full house and stunning success.
The duet with the People's Artiste of Ukraine, the principal dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine, Aleksandr Stoyanov formed in 2006. Their first joint performance at the National Opera of Ukraine was âÂÂThe Nutcrackerâ ballet. A few months later, they went on tour to China with the performances of âÂÂGiselleâÂÂ, âÂÂThe Sleeping BeautyâÂÂ, âÂÂSwan LakeâÂÂ, âÂÂRomeo and JulietâÂÂ. Today, their repertoire includes almost all classical and neoclassical productions of the National Opera of Ukraine. London ballet critic Maggie Foer called the duet âÂÂthe most beautiful ballet couple in EuropeâÂÂ. In 2011, they participated in Vladimir Malakhov's Charity Gala to help Japan after the Fukushima events. In 2013, Farukh Ruzimatov invited Kateryna and Aleksandr to his Gala Concert in Japan titled âÂÂBallet MasterpiecesâÂÂ. The same year, Andris Liepa invited them to dance at his anniversary event during the Russia and Kazakhstan tour. In 2016, they participated in the Mayan Culture Festival in Mexico along with the principal dancers of the Deutsche Oper Berlin\Berlin Opera, the Bolshoi Theater and the New York City Ballet. For years, Kateryna and Aleksandr have been the favorites of the Ukrainian audiences with their performances being sold-out each time.
2019 â âÂÂVelyki VuikyâÂÂ, TV series â sorceress
2020 â âÂÂViddanaâ (âÂÂFelix AustriaâÂÂ), feature film â Felix's mother
2012 â Honorary title of Merited Artist of Ukraine
2016 â The Order of Princess Olga of the 3rd degree
2017 â Special award âÂÂPride of UkraineâÂÂ
2018 â Honorary title of People's Artist of Ukraine
2019 â Person of the Year. âÂÂUkrainian Idolâ Award
2021 â Viva Awards. Kateryna Kukhar and Aleksandr Stoyanov: charity
Kateryna Kukhar has also won awards for International Competitions and Festivals participation, including but not limited to
In 2020 Kateryna Kukhar was appointed a director of Kyiv State Ballet School, formerly known as Kyiv State Choreographic College â a professional ballet school.
Kateryna Kukhar is married to a principal dancer of National Opera of Ukraine, Aleksandr Stoyanov.
Aleksandr Stoyanov, People's Artiste of Ukraine, is a prizewinner and a jury member of International competitions. Among Aleksandr Stoyanov's dance partners are Kateryna Kukhar, Yana Salenko, Anna Nikulina, Petra Conti and others. Aleksandr often hosts ballet soirées, fundraisers, charitable events, festivals and first night openings in Ukraine.
Kateryna and Aleksandr have two children: their son Timur and daughter Anastasia.