Rinat Buhai’s story begins in Kharkiv—a city that became not only home to his family, but a place of profound испытание. Today, he is seven years old and already a world champion in competitive ballroom dance. Behind that title is not only talent, but an experience few children should ever face: shelling, forced evacuation, and a life lived across countries.
At the start of the full-scale invasion, the family remained in Kharkiv. In March 2022, Russian forces struck a playground near their home—children and parents were killed. Rinat and his mother were meant to be there that day, but the boy suddenly refused to leave the house. After that, he developed a fear of explosions. That instinctive decision ultimately saved their lives.
By the summer of that year, the family left—first relocating to western Ukraine, and later to Bulgaria. On the Black Sea coast, in temporary housing for displaced families, a new chapter began. Rinat’s mother, Olena Lytovchenko—a ballroom dance coach with more than 20 years of experience—chose not to pause her work.
The idea came naturally: at a playground, she invited other children to try dancing. That’s how Baby Dance was born—initially as basic movement, rhythm, and play. Over time, it evolved into a structured training program focused on competition. Among the students was Rinat, then five years old.
His first competitions came within a year. At six, he stepped onto the floor at international tournaments—and began winning. In just a year and a half, Rinat claimed victories at nine international competitions held under the auspices of leading global ballroom dance federations. He performs both solo and in pairs, competing in Latin and Standard programs.
His training defies the traditional model: he does not have a постоянную partner, and rehearsals are often held remotely. Partners learn choreography online, then meet shortly before competitions, rehearse together, and take to the floor. This level of mobility has become part of a new reality to which they have had to adapt.
One of his defining achievements came at the Blackpool Dance Festival—one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions in the world of ballroom dance. In April 2026, Rinat took first place there in two programs. The event traditionally brings together top dancers from the UK, the US, China, Italy, and beyond, and is widely regarded as a benchmark for the entire industry.
Despite an international schedule and intensive training, Rinat continues his studies remotely at Kharkiv Lyceum No. 6. Alongside dance, he attends ballet school and takes vocal lessons with a teacher who, like many others, was forced to leave her home due to the war.
Olena Lytovchenko is not focused on turning her son into a professional athlete at any cost. Instead, she emphasizes development, discipline, and inner stability. Rinat’s own ambitions are simple: he wants to keep dancing—and one day, to teach others.
His story extends beyond titles and trophies. It reflects how a new generation is being shaped under extraordinary circumstances—children who have faced instability early on, yet have learned to hold their rhythm, even as the world around them shifts.