Artiste: Ekaterina Chebykina

“Make dance, not war,” is the message as the Ukrainian company performs Tchaikovsky's classic ballet at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. 

With Contrasts, the Mariinsky dancers are put under a multifaceted microscope. 

The fireworks – when they came – were explosive, Viktoria Tereshkina and Kimin Kim igniting the Royal Opera House stage in a frenzy of effervescent footwork.