16-year-old Ukrainian teaching Irish dancing

At ten years of age Kristina Bonvalenko discovered Irish dancing in her school concert in Odessa Ukraine.

Little did she know that six years later she would be teaching Irish dancing to Ukrainian children in Dublin but also living in Ireland as a refugee from war.

16-year-old Kristina now lives with her mother in Lucan with a host family where she also goes to school.

“Everything is fine, we are very comfortable,” says Kristina of her new life in Dublin.

She and her mother left Odessa nine months ago as the war in Ukraine intensified.

Now, every Saturday and Wednesday Kristina teaches Irish dancing to young Ukrainian children at the Rathmines Community Centre for Ukrainian refugees.

“I first learnt Irish dancing in Odessa six years ago in a school concert, I really loved the dancing, it as very unusual and interesting,” explains Kristina.

She had also of course seen Riverdance on tv.

“I went to an Irish dancing school in Odessa; yes there are two! And I am now dancing for six years.

“Of course I saw Riverdance and I hope to go to see it this summer, I have never seen it live before,” says Kristina.

Kristina teaches Irish reels to the children at the clases on both days.

“The reel is the first dance all the children learn, they are very good, they learn very fast and very well,” concluded Kristina.

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