IN Talent both the jury and the audience are taken when a film suddenly starts rolling on the stage screen. It shows a bombed-out Ukraine and a woman, Eugenia, talks about the concerns for the country’s children. After the film, the dance group “Children of Ukraine” runs out onto the stage in folk costumes and starts dancing. The performance begins with the sound of a bomb alarm and the dance moves several members of the jury and the audience to tears.
She helped the children come to Sweden
Afterwards, the ballet teacher Eugenia goes on stage and tells the children about their story. Eugenia came to Sweden a couple of years ago and when the war broke out, she helped the children at her old dance school escape to Sweden. She still has a hard time accepting the reality of the war.
– For me it was difficult to understand that there is still someone who is prepared to take someone’s life. I tried to explain to the children why it happens, but I don’t understand myself, she says.
The talent jury in tears
The dance helps the children to process what they have been through.
– When I dance, the pain comes out in the dance and it makes me feel better, says the dancer Emma.
The jury is very moved by the children’s story. Johanna Nordström’s tears flow when she says:
– You came here with a story that no one should have to suffer through.
Pär Lernström presses the golden buzzer
One person who knows the children’s dance extra well is the presenter Pär Lernström. After the jury’s nice words, he suddenly storms up to the jury’s table and presses the golden buzzer – which sends the dance group “Chrilden of Ukraine” directly to the Talent Final.
– These should get all the attention they can get. They deserve this more than anyone else, he says.
Watch the performance – which moved both the jury and the audience to tears – in the player above.