Some flavours of Russia in India

cultural festival

Delhiites enjoyed a flavour of Russia with two acclaimed Russian theatre and dance troupes performing in the Capital recently.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Embassy of the Russian Federation, New Delhi, hosted the programme as part of The Festival of Russian Culture in India.

A Protocol was signed between ICCR and the Ministry of Russian Federation on October 15 this year. Director General, ICCR, Dr Suresh K. Goel and Deputy Minister of Culture, Ministry of Russian Federation, A Busygin agreed that a ‘Festival of Russian Culture in India’ will be held from October 23 to November 4.

Dr Suresh Goel informs us, “ICCR has always strived to improve relations between India and other nations through cultural contacts. We are glad to host such high quality groups from Russia. An exhibition of art and photographs is also an important aspect of the festival because it will connect Russian art to the Roerich estate (in Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh). Russia will also host a festival of Indian culture in 2013 as a reciprocal gesture.”

Artistes who participated at the event included soloists from the Bolshoi, Marinsky and Mikhailovsky theatres, St Petersburg folk ensemble 'Barynya’ and a troupe of the Russian Academic Youth Theatre, besides a photography exhibition.

The company ‘Barynya’ is a prize winner at the 4th International Festival ‘Ukranian Spring in St.Petersburg’ (2009), diploma winner of the 69th National Festival in Metz (France, 2004), National Festival in Le Bourget (2004) and several other awards.

The artistic director of the company is an honored artist of Russia –Tatiana Timokhina who perfectly mingles various styles and epochs, as well as elements of old folk festivities.

The repertoire of the group is made the way that the audiences can see Cossacks’ daring maneuvers, love lyrics of temperamental gipsy dances and slow Russian round dance.

The Russian Academic Youth Theater was founded in Moscow in 1921 by Natalia Sats, who became its first artistic director.

Since 1980 the artistic director of RAMT is Alexey Borodin, people’s artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize and decorated with many National awards.

RAMT has been always attracting talented, brave and seeking people. Evgeny Dvorzhetsky, Tchulpan Khamatova, Nina Tchusova have become famous and sought-after actors, working at the RAMT. The company is considered to be one of the best and youngest in Moscow.