Yahoo TV

STORY: This Ukrainian ballerina is finally performing in Swan Lake again

Location: Budapest, Hungary

a year after her life was uprooted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ganna Muromtseva fled Kyiv at the peak of her career at the National Opera of Ukraine

[Ganna Muromtseva, Ballerina]

"My decision was to pack my laptop or to take point shoes, because it was heavy. So I didn't take anything, I had to leave everything. When I left Kyiv I even did not count that I will dance any day again. I said 'bye-bye' to my career.’’

She was registered as a refugee in Germany last year

before auditioning for a position at the Hungarian State Opera

"It is a totally different production of Swan Lake here, for me it feels like I really have to prove. It's always nervous, it's normal to be nervous. I want to show that I can be deeper than just a good worker."

Muromtseva has no plans to return to Ukraine

"We call it war-life balance now, it's not work-life balance any more. It was difficult, now it's getting a little bit easier because I have to work always on my mental health. I am waiting for this day, that one day I can dance on Kyiv stage again, but for now I have a contract here. My decision is to stay here."