For the last two weeks, Moscow Ballet soloist Olga Aru has been teaching ballet master classes at studios in Gillette and Casper. She now lives in Italy, but Aru was born in Donetsk, Ukraine – a disputed part of the country that has seen intense fighting. Her international touring has brought her close to conflict, as well. She was performing in Cairo when the 2011 Egyptian Revolution erupted. She sat down with Wyoming Public Radio’s Caroline Ballard to talk about her experiences.

Olga Aru will return to Gillette and Casper in November to perform The Great Russian Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet. The company has dedicated this year’s North American tour to world peace. Instead of a land of sweets, the production’s second act will open with a land of peace and harmony.