Dancing to Keep the Maidan Dream Alive

The Maidan protests were followed by the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine against Russian-backed insurgents. Kyiv’s ravers have found their own form of protest- by keeping their feet on the dance floor and their eyes fixed on the West.

Three years ago, pro-European demonstrators in Ukraine ousted the Russian-friendly regime after months of protests. Since then, a powerful wave of creativity has revitalized the country’s cultural scene. Popular techno parties are a case in point.

Cxema is the name of the biggest series of raves set up since the Maidan revolution. Every few weeks, 1,500 revellers gather to party till the early hours.

Many of today’s ravers took part in the Maidan protests three years ago. Kyiv’s techno scene offers a platform for young people to come together and keep alive the drive for renewal that defined the revolution.

DJs from western Europe are welcome at raves in the Ukrainian capital: Kyiv’s music scene is staking its claim to membership in the global techno community.

Ukraine’s economic crisis has hit young people hard. In just two years, the Ukrainian hryvnia has lost half its value against the dollar. Many young people are out of a job, with time on their hands to devote to the protest against crisis, corruption and war.

A DW camera crew followed Kyiv’s young creatives over the course of a summer’s days and nights. Among them, the founder of the Cxema raves, Slava Lepsheev (center).

Techno DJ Dmytrij Wulffius released his first album this summer - on vinyl. In the Pine’s Crowns is being distributed by a foreign record label. It’s a big step for Wulffius: the Ukrainian comes from the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia.

A fresh wave of creativity has fuelled a cultural revival in Kyiv in the two years since the Maidan revolution: Instead of taking to the streets, young people have resorted to partying in protest against endemic corruption.

Kyiv’s cityscape is marked by its Soviet legacy. But young creatives are bringing a buzz to many neighborhoods - including those of drab, communist-era concrete monoliths.