audience. to share our culture. and we call ourselves warriors for the stage. >> reporter: but if they are warriors, they are warriors practically without uniforms. the dancers came here expecting only a brief tour with only the costumes for the nutcracker performance, and no scenic backdrops or stage props. for now they'll continue performing around france, but borrowing everything, right down to replacement ballet shoes. olga pastrnak and mikhail, two of the ballet company's star performers have toured abroad before. but this is different. neither can stand being apart from their families, knowing that they are increasingly under the russian boot. >> at this moment, i understand that i'm safe here, but still i want to return home. >> reporter: olga says there are times when she steps off stage