Budapest –

After fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of young Ukrainian circus performers have found a new home in Hungary.

The Capital Circus of Budapest has been hosting shows in the Hungarian capital since 1889 and has attracted hundreds of young people aged 5 to 20 over the past two years, as well as several choreographers and trainers.

They include 18-year-old Alesa Astapova, who fled her home in Kiev in March 2022 as Russian tanks approached the capital.

“I’m really grateful because the circus gave me a place and gave me an opportunity to train and continue my work, my job, my passion. Now I study at the Academy of Contemporary Dance in Budapest, so in the morning I danced and performed circus at night,” Astapova told VOA as she and several other performers practiced dancing at a facility on the outskirts of Budapest. Hungarian capital, cold February night.

Ukrainians regularly attend performances at the main circus in the city center. Its director, Peter Fekete, said he wanted to help young performers develop their careers.

“It was natural for us that when the war broke out, a group of children knocked on our door and said they had to leave their homes and we took them in. At the time, we thought it would be a day, maybe a week, maybe a month later , the war would be over. But now it’s turned into two years,” he told VOA.

“Perhaps the most important thing we have to offer them is purpose in life,” he said. “So we give them a trial and if possible, we select our projects for them so they can see that there is something worth living for, something worth working for, something worth fighting for every day,” Fickert added.

The circus provided safety and attention to young Ukrainians. But the future remains unknown. Many of the performers came from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, a region devastated by the Russian invasion.

“My family is still in Ukraine,” said 18-year-old Nikita Leshchenko. “They continue to live and work in Kharkiv because there is no other choice… When we call relatives, they try to hide what is happening there. But we still know everything, we see everything from many sources. This is too It’s scary,” Leshchenko said. Despite the danger, he desperately wanted to come back. “Yes, there are a lot of opportunities here, but I also want to go home,” he said.

Fifteen-year-old Mikhail Chepkiy is also trying to figure out his next move. “Europe is a continent full of opportunities. We really want to travel, perform… but it is also very important to go back to Ukraine to see our families and spend time there. We will definitely go to Ukraine at this time [war] It’s all over,” he said.

Young performers are well taken care of in Budapest. The circus provides them with accommodation and meals as well as study programs. But they face difficult life decisions.

Alesha Astapova desperately wanted to see her mother, who still lives in Kiev. But she believes it will take time for Ukraine to recover. “I think I will travel for a while. Because even if the war finally ends and everything will be safe, the country should have time to come back, find a rhythm, get some new financial support. And then maybe (I will go home)… But then Five years, I don’t think so.”

Director Peter Fecott believes the circus offers wider lessons.

“We’re used to the fact that if someone jumps to one side, someone on the other side will catch him, whether he’s Russian or Ukrainian. We’ve been on the same show since the war started The work of Russians and Ukrainians helping each other. I think it’s a message to the world, it’s a message about tolerance, acceptance, peace,” he said.