Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101058830200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rhythm, rapture and Russia

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M.Vedhan

Foot-tapping: A dance performance at Russkaya Fe’eria in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: That there is more to Russian dance than classical ballet was well proved with Russkaya Fe’eria, a show of Russian folk and modern dance here on Tuesday. As part of the Year of Russia in India, 10 Russian artists performed at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture.

Organised by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, New Delhi in association with the Mamontov Centre, Moscow and the Russian Centre for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation, Moscow, the Russkaya Fe’eria dance show is on an India tour.

“This year is to strengthen the bilateral relations and friendship between India and Russia,” director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Chennai, Stanislav Simakov said. The eight female and two male dancers of the Russkaya Fe’eria ensemble performed a mix of traditional waltz, tango, rock & roll, folk, country, classical ballet, foxtrot, modern disco, show jazz and hip-hop, all on Russian music. “Today we have seen the beauty of Russia. I am stunned. If this is their art, sure the people of Russia have to be happy and healthy,” founder chairman of the Indo-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry V.M. Lakshminarayanan said after the show.