Every seat was taken, the aisles were occupied and even the steps leading into the auditorium were chock-a-block with standing spectators when the Russian dance ensemble Severnye Zori took the stage recently at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
“Severnye Zori means Northern lights in Russian. The troupe was on a multi-city tour of India, having performed in Shillong before reaching Calcutta, and scheduled to proceed for two shows to Bihar before concluding the tour at Russian House in Delhi. The crowd here today proves how well they have been received in the city,” said consul general Alexey Idamkin.
Dance performance by Russian dance ensemble Severnye Zori
“They are performing as part of the seventh India International Folk Festival. We have had a troupe from Vietnam perform yesterday while one from Ethiopia and another from Cuba will take the stage tomorrow,” said ICCR zonal head Minakshi Mishra.
Created in 1966, the ensemble has been awarded the title “Honoured team of Folk Art of the Russian Federation” in 2014 by the order of the minister of culture of the Russian Federation for its long-term creative activity and for educating young people. It is credited for the dance art of Cherepovets in the Vologda region. The ensemble has been running a children’s choreography studio, which now has over 400 child learners and serves as a supply line for the troupe itself.
Governor C.V. Ananda Bose was the chief guest and felicitated the artistic director and choreographer of the ensemble, Tatyana Izyumova. The colourful dances and singing presented by the troupe combined traditional styles of performance with a modern approach in choreography.