Zakharova Performs in Rome After Florence Shows Canceled

By Stefano Ghezzi ( ROME, Italy) — Russian ballet star Svetlana Zakharova is set to perform in Rome this March, weeks after protests led to the cancellation of her scheduled appearances in Florence over her political ties to the Kremlin.

Zakharova, a principal dancer at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and a former lawmaker for President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, will appear on March 20–21 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica as part of the Les Étoiles festival. Her Florence performances were suspended after criticism from Ukrainian groups and diplomats, who cited her past support for Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The cancellation drew condemnation from the Russian Embassy in Italy, which accused Italian institutions of discrimination against Russian artists. Zakharova’s Rome performances are expected to proceed despite continued public debate.