Triumph of the Spirit: When Dance Becomes a Way Back to Life
On February 22, the charity evening “Triumph of the Spirit. Grace of Dance” took place at VDNG in Kyiv, gathering veterans, artists, and guests for an event centered on resilience and reintegration. The focus was clear: recovery is not only clinical. It continues in public spaces, in shared experiences, and in the decision to remain active.
The program featured military personnel with amputations, as well as participants with visual or hearing impairments, performing choreographed dance pieces. Among them were Oleksandr Mamontov and Artem Moroz, both using the Levitate Forever Foot, designed to support smooth, natural movement and reliable stability in everyday and lifestyle activities.
Oleksandr Mamontov, a veteran of the special forces unit “Dozor,” sustained a severe injury in November 2024 after stepping on an anti personnel mine during a combat mission. Following prosthetic treatment at the Superhumans Center, he chose to pursue adaptive sports and new physical challenges rather than step back from activity. The evening marked his first public dance performance, where balance, controlled transitions, and confidence in movement were essential.
Artem Moroz lost both legs during the liberation of Kherson. Since then, he has remained actively involved in supporting fellow service members in medical institutions while also developing creative and adaptive dance projects. Performing alongside Polina Ishchenko, with whom he previously appeared in Times Square, he continues to demonstrate that artistic expression can be part of long term recovery and social engagement.
The project was initiated by Oksana Dmitrieva to support veterans with limb loss and service members who have lost their sight or hearing. It highlights the role of movement in both physical rehabilitation and psychological adaptation. Dance provides structure, discipline, and partnership, but it also restores visibility and participation in cultural life.
Returning to society after traumatic injury involves more than physical healing: it requires opportunities to engage, contribute, and be seen beyond the injury itself. Events like this create that space, where movement becomes a bridge between rehabilitation and everyday life.
