In June 2013 in the Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theatre seven young choreographers presented the night of their performances on the basis of Andrei Platonov’s works. The project was inspired by a great dancer and choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev who invited Yury Smekalov to the project. Then the premiere of the fifteen-minute ballet Jan took place. Smekalov has brought to the forefront of the story the theme of the orphaned, lost people, so he mainly focused on the corps de ballet's monologue of the heroes waiting for their Danko Nazar. The drama of the story is emphasized by the music composed by Alexander Maev for piano and strings – it’s full of heroes’ anguish and heartache and their hope for salvation.