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Italy Dance Gala Bans Russian Ballerina, Irking League Party
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
Italy’s “Les Étoiles” gala in Rome has dropped Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova over institutional concerns about cultural symbolism amid the Ukraine war. The decision, seen as politically charged, drew criticism from Deputy PM Matteo Salvini who called it “Russophobia.”
Russian Ballerina Svetlana Zakharova Excluded from Rome Dance Gala in Political Dispute
Political Controversy Surrounding Russian Artists in Italy
Exclusion of Svetlana Zakharova from Rome Gala
ROME, March 17 (Reuters) - Celebrated Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova has been excluded from a dance gala beginning in Rome this month, organisers said, in the latest political dispute over the participation of Russian artists in cultural events in Italy.
A star of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, Zakharova has been a vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin. She had been due to perform at the "Les Etoiles" gala in the Italian capital on March 20 to 21.
Organisers' Statement and Institutional Communications
The gala's organisers said that in deciding to exclude Zakharova they had received "institutional communications ... that have highlighted the symbolic responsibility of cultural institutions in the current context".
They did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who had sent the communication. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in the war and of sanctions against Russia.
Concerns Over Event Perception
They said there was a risk of the event being "misunderstood or exploited", despite their hope to build bridges through art.
Broader Context: Russian Artists and Italian Cultural Events
Venice Biennale and Political Reactions
Zakharova's exclusion comes after a contested decision by the Venice Biennale art exhibition to reopen its Russian pavilion - which has been closed since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine - for this year's edition which runs from May to November.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, whose far-right League party had close ties to Putin's United Russia party prior to the Ukraine war, backed the Biennale's decision, and on Tuesday criticised the exclusion of Zakharova as "Russophobia".
Salvini's Criticism and Call for Dialogue
"We must make an effort to end this war. Excluding Russian dancers, painters, or athletes does not resolve the conflict, it only complicates it," he said in an interview with radio RTL 102.5.
Previous Incidents Involving Russian Artists
Italian events have attempted on several occasions to host Russian artists, only to back down in the face of criticism. Last year authorities cancelled a classical concert in a palace near Naples over the planned participation of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, widely regarded as close to Putin.
Zakharova's Background and Recent Exclusions
Zakharova, 46, was born in Ukraine - then part of the Soviet Union - and was a Russian member of parliament for United Russia from 2008 to 2012. She was removed from an arts festival in Florence in January after objections from the Ukrainian embassy.
(Writing by Francesca Piscioneri; Editing by Gavin Jones and Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •Svetlana Zakharova was excluded from the March 20‑21 “Les Étoiles” gala in Rome due to institutional guidance on symbolic responsibility in the war context (avrupatimes.com).
- •The move follows earlier cancellations of her performances in Florence under pressure from the Ukrainian Embassy and civil society citing her Kremlin ties (euromaidanpress.com).
- •Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the exclusion as “Russophobia,” arguing that banning artists does not help end the conflict (uk.lapresse.it).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy dance gala bans Russian ballerina, irking League party
1Why was Svetlana Zakharova excluded from the Rome dance gala?
Zakharova was excluded due to institutional concerns about the symbolic responsibility of cultural institutions amid political tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
2Which event excluded Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova?
Zakharova was excluded from the 'Les Etoiles' gala, scheduled for March 20-21 in Rome.
3Have other Russian artists faced similar exclusions in Italy?
Yes, previous events, such as concerts and festivals, have excluded Russian artists including conductor Valery Gergiev due to their perceived support for President Putin.
4What is Svetlana Zakharova's background?
Zakharova is a renowned Russian ballerina, supporter of Putin, born in Ukraine, and a former member of the Russian parliament.
