Khabarovsk: and again “Gray Night”…
The long series of rainy weekends in Khabarovsk has finally ended, and a dance floor has opened in the city park “Dynamo”. Hats, necklaces, fans… Ladies – you can’t call them anything else! – in flowing dresses, dashing gentlemen… Elderly Khabarovsk residents have been gathering in the park for many years for “Khabarovsk Meetings” – dance evenings.
– People were so looking forward to the start of the season, they were upset that the dances were cancelled time after time because of bad weather. And, of course, they were preparing for the “Meetings” – look how smart everyone is. And some of them get there from their districts with transfers for more than an hour, – says Svetlana Shkrob.
She came to dance with her husband.
Ladies line up their handbags on the edge of the stage – just like on the dance floor in their youth. Fans flutter in their hands: although it is evening in Khabarovsk, the phone mercilessly reports: plus 32 degrees. “Songs of the 80s!” – announces singer Evgeny Rozhnov and gets the crowd going from the first notes: “If you are young at heart, then there will definitely be a new city.”
In Khabarovsk it’s almost a law: as soon as the rains stop, everyone goes to the dance floor. Photo: Svetlana Shkrob
The soloist is replaced by Stanislav Vanakov, his saxophone is sometimes laughing, sometimes sad. And the dancers seem not to notice the humid heat and sing along with the famous Far Eastern singer Olga Verneta.
“It was two short hours of happiness,” smiles Khabarovsk resident Lidiya.
Another park, Muravyov-Amursky Park, also delights with hours of “dancing happiness” in the open air. Half a century ago, there was a famous city dance floor here. The old tradition was picked up by the Russian ball revival club “Reverance” under the direction of Vladimir Biryukov.
The club won a grant and, together with the park administration, organizes “Gray Night” parties on Sundays for people of silver age to the tunes of the 70s-90s.
The members of “Reverance” are themselves people of respectable years and by their example prove that it is useful to dance at any age. They come out on the stage two or three times a evening and captivate everyone who has looked into the park with the element of dance. And “Gray Night” gathers three hundred people who want to plunge into the music and dances of their youth.
Novosibirsk: Mazurka on Wednesdays
Anyone can learn to dance the polka, mazurka and waltz as part of the project “Novosibirsk Balls are Available to Everyone” from the secular dance studio “Reflection”.
The project started last year with street classes. Novosibirsk residents, inspired by the example of more experienced dancers and classical music, began attending classes regularly. And now they have returned to the street area, but more prepared. For them, this is an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, additionally practice their dance skills, and also introduce city residents to the culture of secular dance.
In Novosibirsk, dancing is an opportunity for many to show off their skills and also to introduce city residents to the culture of secular dance. Photo: Olga Gutman
Training takes place in all major parks of Novosibirsk. The largest site for this is located in the Central Park. Classes there are held on Wednesdays at 19:00. Novosibirsk residents are told how the balls were held and are given a short training in the simplest steps.
And at the end of June, these same project participants danced the Viennese waltz as part of a large flash mob for City Day.
Voronezh: Dancing in the Rain
The enthusiasm of the guys from the Salon Dance Club in Voronezh defeated the elements. Clouds were wandering over the city, and rain was lashing the wet streets. “The party will take place in any weather,” answered my anxious question the project manager Alexey Nelyubov. Only the location had changed: instead of the usual area near the lighthouse, the dancers gathered in another park, where there is a summer veranda under a roof. It is usually used for exercise and other physical training, so they had to dance to the sound of ping-pong balls on the tables nearby.
As soon as the kids turned on the music and sorted out their pairs, the clouds parted and the damp air from the rain sparkled in the red rays of the setting sun.
Nelyubov loves to organize various events – mostly related to costumes from different eras. At the university he became friends with reenactors, and off we went. Now he organizes swimming in bathing suits from the time of Isadora Duncan, or a ball in the spirit of Natasha Rostova. He can talk for an hour about the features of the collar and cuffs of a shirt under a frock coat… There is no dress code for dance parties, so as not to scare off newcomers – there are other requirements here.
– A person needs to behave adequately and understand where and why he came. And it is desirable that he can dance. At least a little, – the organizer explained.
The guys from Voronezh are not afraid even of rain – enthusiasm conquers any elements! Photo: Igor Filonov
On a fine day, up to 40 people gather on his dance floor, this time eight were not afraid of the bad weather. There were only three girls, and they danced in turns. Men also took turns waltzing in pairs.
– That’s how they learned to dance in gymnasiums: boys with boys, girls with girls. Education was separate, – Alexey continued.
Valery Chirkov has been dancing for a long time. It all started with an interest in the culture of other countries, then it turned out that there are interesting people on the dance floor too. So his dancing hobby turned into a social one.
Katya Surgucheva likes dancing more than socializing.
– I dance everywhere: at home, in clubs, here. I like different dances: circle, folk, I recently learned Scottish, I like it too. But my main passion is tango. I’ve been into it for about ten years. But love, you know, is like a flower: it takes a long time to mature, then it opens, – the girl said.
Sofia Grebenkina and Kirill Dyakov met at a ball at Alexey’s and are now expecting their second child. The first, Matvey, smiles cheerfully at the dancers from a stroller.
Dancing in Russia is more than just dancing. It is about communication, about people, about their relationships. Photo: Igor Filonov
– For us, dancing is probably more about communication. It’s about bringing people together in a community where it’s nice to spend time, – Kirill said.
Sophia also loves people and dancing, and recently she has become interested in horse riding: she sews riding boots and learns to ride in keeping with the era.
Sochi: Zumba in “Riviera”
In Sochi, everyone was invited to dance. A master class in salsa, zumba and bachata was held in the Riviera Park.
This was the first event proposed by the head of group programs at one of the Nizhny Novgorod fitness clubs, Artem Kechkin.
– I came on vacation and didn’t want to sit still or lie on the beach all day, so I invited everyone to join! – Artem urged.
He was supported by his Sochi colleague Alena Vasilyeva, who conducts dance training classes for visitors to a local fitness club.
Several dozen people took part in the master class. They danced salsa, zumba and bachata. The playful movements of the beginning dancers delighted both the participants themselves and the spectators, who were random passers-by.
If you don’t feel like lying on the beach all day, you can always learn Latin American dancing in Sochi. Photo: Alexey Maishev / RIA Novosti
– It’s a boost of energy for the whole week, a real vitamin for health! – admitted Vera Pavlova, a pensioner from Sochi.
The master class was free, and similar events are periodically organized at the resort. Incidentally, spontaneous dances are also organized on the seashore.
Source: rg.ru
