Show Notes
Alexis Tutunnique is a ballet dancer, a graduate of the Kyiv National Ballet School, a member of the United Ukrainian Ballet Company, and the subject of the recent documentary Front Row. In Front Row, Alexis befriends and invites Sascha, a former Ukrainian soldier who lost his legs in a bombing, to join the dance troupe for a performance in LA.
Jay and Alexis discuss the state of cultural activism, the way Ukrainian artists and soldiers inspire each other, and Ukraine’s national identity post-2022.
Episode Chapters (00:00) Welcome & Introduction (01:00) Ballet as a Form of Cultural Activism (05:00) From Russia to Exile: Alexis’ Journey (09:00) Severed Ties: Russian Friends and Propaganda (10:00) A Soldier’s Journey to the Ballet (14:00) Cultural Activism’s Emotional Impact (16:00) The Limits of Cultural Activism (20:00) Defining Victory for Ukraine (23:00) Final Thoughts and Goodbye
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Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at www.jayruderman.com.
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