Russia – Norway: exercise of friendship

Russian and Norwegian young dancers on the Arkhangelsk stage again

From the 31st of January til the 2nd of February there was an educational seminar for pedagogies and choreographic collectives’ leaders of the educational institution for further children vocational education in the Regional Center of further vocational education. There were colleagues and dancers from Norway. The seminar was organized with the assistance of The Norwegian Barents Secretariat, and found place in Arkhangelsk. Teachers from the Arkhangelsk center of further vocational education and school of arts from Tromsø and Oslo give colleagues special choreographic master-classes. This project is called “Russia – Norway: exercise of friendship”. Also, the arrival of delegation is coincided with the 47 years celebration of the ensemble “Druzhba”.

The two students, trainees of the Barents Information Office – Eilen Zakariassen from Oslo, Julia Bobina from Arkhangelsk, took part in one of the trainings. They made photos and discussed basic points of the project with the leaders.

Svetlana Korepanova, the art director of choreographic ensemble “Druzhba”: «The choreographer Sally Parkinson gave classic trainings by English system at the master-class. This system helps children to loosen up, because north children are very modest. This school develops different personality traits. We are acquainted and have an active working with Sally Parkinson for more than 5 years. She is also interested in the cooperation with our collective».

The ensemble “Druzhba” has a big experience of cooperation with colleagues from Norway, Sweden and Finland. Svetlana Korepanova and the main choreographer of ensemble Elena Panova are members of the Barents Dance Council, which united professional-choreographers of BEAR. Some years ago the ensemble “Druzhba” took part in the combined ballet performances “The Snow Queen” and “Reindeer Step” collaboratively with the Laplandic University of orchestics in Rovaniemi. Also the ensemble is connected by long-range communications with the Nowegian Theater of dancing “Stellaris” in Hammerfest.

Sally Parkinson, Norwegian choreographer: “This is my second arrival to Arkhangelsk. I love this town very much! Population of your town becomes real friends for us. I consider that his project is very important for the cooperation between Norway and Russia”. When being asked how the Norwegian girls like being in Arkhangelsk, a big and spontaneous “COOL!” is expressed immediately. They have already managed to make good friends with some of the Russian dancers, and the Norwegian girls are impressed that so many Russian boys are dancing classical ballet. “Norwegian boys don’t like to dance”, says one of the girls. The main purpose of the seminar is to develop friendship. Another purpose is to learn by each other, both choreography and about the different cultures in Tromsø and Arkhangelsk.

text and photo: Julia Bobina and Eilen Zakariassen