On the Dnipro
A woman in traditional Ukrainian dress stands among golden fields, evoking the rural landscape and quiet beauty that form the backdrop of On the Dnipro.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Premiere: December 16, 1932
✦ Choreographer: Serge Lifar
✦ Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
✦ Inspired By: An original story by Serge Lifar
✦ Setting: A Ukrainian village along the Dnipro (Dnieper) River after World War I
✦ Status: Rarely performed today but recognized as an important twentieth-century ballet by Prokofiev and Lifar.
Serge Lifar, choreographer of On the Dnipro, created this lyrical ballet for the Paris Opéra Ballet in 1932 with music by Sergei Prokofiev.
S U M M A R Y
On the Dnipro (Na Dnipri or On the Dnieper) is a lyrical ballet that tells a story of love, memory, and the lasting effects of war. Premiering in 1932, the ballet features music by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Serge Lifar for the Paris Opéra Ballet. Set in a quiet Ukrainian village along the Dnipro (Dnieper) River, the ballet follows a young soldier returning home after war, only to discover that the life and love he left behind have changed forever.
A peaceful walk through a sunlit meadow reflects the ballet's themes of memory, longing, and the search for happiness after lives have been forever changed by war.
A historic Ukrainian village resembles the riverside communities that inspired the setting of On the Dnipro, where the ballet's story of love and homecoming unfolds.
After returning to his village, the soldier Sergiy discovers that both he and the world around him have changed. Although his fiancée, Natalia, has remained faithful, he finds himself drawn instead to the spirited Olga, who is already promised to another man. His unexpected feelings ignite jealousy and heartbreak, leading to conflict among the villagers and forcing each character to confront the painful consequences of love, loyalty, and choices made after war.
Although On the Dnipro was not an immediate success and is performed only occasionally today, it is recognized as an important work in Prokofiev's career and an early milestone in Serge Lifar's choreographic legacy. Its poetic storytelling, emotional realism, and evocative music continue to attract ballet historians and companies interested in rediscovering overlooked twentieth-century masterpieces.
E N C O R E
✦ An Original Story – Unlike many classical ballets based on fairy tales or legends, On the Dnipro tells an original human drama about ordinary people whose lives have been forever changed by war.
✦ A Prokofiev Collaboration – Composed by Sergei Prokofiev and choreographed by Serge Lifar, the ballet marked an important collaboration between two of the twentieth century's leading artistic innovators.
✦ A Rediscovered Treasure – Although its 1932 premiere received a cool reception and the ballet soon disappeared from the stage, On the Dnipro is now appreciated for its poetic storytelling, expressive score, and emotional realism.