Pride, happiness, and excitement: participants of "Khorovod" share their emotions ahead of the premiere
Very soon, the first showing of the music and dance parable "Khorovod (round dance). The Energy of Unity" will begin at the National Centre RUSSIA. More than 600 artists from across the country will unite on one stage to show the beauty of national traditions through dance, music, and stage imagery. The final rehearsals are drawing to a close, and participants are sharing their impressions of meeting other ensembles and talking about the mood in which they are preparing to step out before the audience.
For the State Concert Ensemble from Khabarovsk "Far East", taking part in the production is an opportunity to showcase themselves and to get to know the work of their colleagues.
"To be part of such a show, where the leading ensembles of our country have gathered, is worth a great deal. There is such energy here! The artists represent their regions, their cultures — all so different and all together. It is simply incredible," shared the ensemble's artistic director, Yulia Davydova.
Ensemble artist Veronika Nepomnyashchaya, in turn, noted how impressed she was by the scale and beauty of the production, and in her colleagues' work she especially praised the discipline and stage presence that she wanted to learn from.
Ensemble artist Alexander Sergeyev spoke about the sense of responsibility before stepping onto the shared stage: "The very first thing I want to note is the responsibility and the enormous desire to live up to everything that is happening. To be on the same stage together with such great ensembles is a thrill, it is a challenge for us. Every culture has its own bright sides, which are very interesting to watch and to absorb. The more we learn, the more we see, the more interesting we become. Today I will go on stage with a feeling of joy and happiness for being part of such a large collective, part of this event."
For Denis Igonin, an artist of the Moscow Song Theatre "Yar", the connection between folk culture and contemporary audiences is important. He noted that the ensemble strives to present it in such a way that it finds a response in the hearts of people living now, while the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside other artists has been a great joy for him.
Artist of the "Yar" Song Theatre Valeria Boginya sees in the khorovod itself an image of unity that is understandable to everyone. According to her, the meeting of participants from different corners of the country allows one to feel just how diverse it is.
"Incredible emotions overwhelm you, because you realise the scale of the event, and how colourful our country is. People from different corners of our vast Motherland have gathered here, and it is an amazing feeling when we are all united in one great khorovod. At festivities, even strangers join hands and form a khorovod — it unites them, and we become one whole," emphasised Valeria Boginya.
The music and dance parable "Khorovod. The Energy of Unity" will take place on 10, 11, and 12 November at the National Centre RUSSIA. The artistic concept of the parable is based on one of the deepest and most expressive symbols of national unity: the khorovod, in which no one comes first or last, and there is no hierarchy. It is a common circle uniting people in a single movement. Through the language of music and dance, the programme reveals the richness and diversity of the cultural traditions of the peoples of Russia, emphasising the commonality and cohesion of peoples and the strength of our country.
