[1][2][3][4] The Grand Kyiv Ballet was founded in 2014 by Oleksandr Stoianov, a premiere of the National Ballet of Ukraine, beginning with a French tour of 35 theaters, with a troupe consisting of approximately 35 performers.
[5][6] This group includes dancers who have performed in the National Opera of Ukraine.
Stoianov's wife, Katerina Kukhar, is a principal dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine, and of the Grand Kyiv Ballet.
[11] Kukhar said their family had been in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, and became refugees during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
[7] In October, 2023, Kukhar expressed the importance of providing an opportunity for Ukrainian dancers to continue their careers following the destruction of many theaters in Ukraine, to share Ukrainian culture, and collecting funds to provide support to Kyiv State Ballet College.