Yvette Cooper's constituent Yvette Cooper and her husband Ed Balls' Ukrainian neighbors have discussed how their love of ballroom dancing helped them integrate into British society.
Yeva Drozhzhyna, 12, and her mother Katerina traveled to Castleford, West Yorkshire, where their host, Labour MP Ms. Cooper, is based.
Yeva was able to maintain some sense of normalcy in her life, according to Mrs. Drozhzhyna.
According to Ms. Cooper, Mr. Balls, who made an appearance on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, had been "offering a few tips" of his own.
She continued, "She really still isn't convinced.".
Zakhar Postupailo, Yeva's friend, is ten years old and recently moved to Yorkshire. He and his mother Yana live nearby.
Since 2017, the two have been dancing together. They now regularly practice together and recently fulfilled a dream of theirs, according to Mrs. Drozhzhyna, by performing in Blackpool at the Tower Ballroom.
"We planned to compete in Blackpool before the war; it was a goal we had in mind. Perhaps that is why we decided to move to the UK; Blackpool is here and it is the center of ballroom dancing.
When we first moved to Hungary, we were unable to practice, which caused stress for everyone, especially the children. Back home, they would typically have lessons every day.
Dance served as a vital link to their past and kept them in a normal life. ".
A significant aspect of Zakhar's life, he said, was ballroom dancing.
For some people, it might be a hobby, but since it's a big part of his life, he added, "It makes me fun and more energetic.".
Katerina and Yeva were introduced to Ms. Cooper by a Ukrainian dancer she met at a fundraising event called the Rob Burrow Strictly Ball, which led her to sponsor the two and invite them into her home.
The fact that they are staying with us is wonderful, but it's terrible that the illegal war has forced them to be separated from their families.
It's amazing to watch the dancing; it's so incredible, and it's crucial that they can continue with something that is a regular part of their lives.
"It is really moving to watch them continue to do something that is so important to them.
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