Svetlana Zakharova’s shows in Florence are cancelled

The Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence has announced that the dance programme Pas de deux for toes and fingers with Svetlana Zakharova and her violinist husband Vadim Repin, has been suspended.

The dates, announced months ago as part of the 2026 season, on 20 and 21 January 2026, have been “temporarily suspended”, even though the box office is issuing refunds to all who have booked.

Following a letter from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Italy and criticism voiced on social media by Network Associations for Ukraine and others, the theatre’s management was reminded of Zakharova’s institutional background: her membership of United Russia, the ruling political party in Russia; her tenure as a deputy in the State Duma; and her 2014 signature on a letter supporting the annexation of Crimea and Donbas. These factors prompted a call to “reassess the programme,” particularly given that it is hosted by an institution that benefits from public funding as well as European resources.

The reason for the cancellation is due to the “persistence of international tensions that create a climate that could jeopardise the success of the show.”

Gramilano Editor

Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.