Ballet dancers who fled Russia reunite on California stage

Ballet dancers Christine Schevchenko, of the Ukraine, and Xander Parish, of the United Kingdom, rehearse as Russia and Ukraine ballet dancers affected by the war come together for a "Unite In Dance" one time performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, U.S., November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake

COSTA MESA, Calif. (Reuters) - Xander Parish is a British-born ballet dancer who was a principal dancer at the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, Russia.

Then, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Within a month, Parish had left. Other international dancers based in Russia also fled, leaving behind their lives, jobs and belongings.