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Yunost rocks Delhi!

Even as Delhi braces itself for the onset of winterthe air was filled with the freshness of spring, as youthful, svelte and talented artistes of the Russian dance group, Yunost, performed at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture this past week.

On a trip to India, under the joint aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Russian Centre, the troupe is also scheduled to perform in Mumbai, Lucknow and Kanpur. The event was inaugurated by V.I. Trubnikov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India, in the presence of an august audience comprising diplomats, bureaucrats and connoisseurs of world culture. And the audience was not let down.

Eclectic mix

As the evening progressed, the stage reverberated to the footsteps of an eclectic mix of dances - folk and modern - in different genres, and some vocal performances.

Thus, while the show started with a slew of traditional folk dances, it moved on to modern forms, which included the energetic Country and the swaying Tango. That the winds of globalisation sweeping the world have had an impact on culture was demonstrated in East - a dance inspired by the Orient - in terms of costume, music and choreography. Besides, there was an interpretation of Spanish modern, influenced by dance forms of that area.

And surprisingly, besides Russian, there was a dance performance to an English song, and a love ballad, yes, in English, sung by a solo vocalist.

From 1976, when it was started by Anatoily Dmitrievich Sazonov, who is also the organiser and permanent leader of the ensemble, besides its choreographer, the troupe has come a long way. It has the distinction of performing at several important venues and occasions, like the Kremlin Congress Palace for the 70th anniversary celebrations of the great October Revolution in 1987, and at the Universal Dance festival, under the aegis of the United Nations and UNESCO in 1995.

For those of us who might have associated Russian dance performances of yore with staid colours and stiff expressions, the Yunost experience would have come as a pleasant surprise, as the stage was set aflutter, as much by the virtuoso steps of the dancers, as with their costumes. From blazing reds to bright yellows to dark browns to vibrant greens, the stage was a fiesta of colours. And the youthful dancers added strength to their talent, with a vivacious use of facial expressions. It was evident they were enjoying their Indian yatra.

A measure of the ensemble's popularity, and its longevity, can be assessed their having visited practically every corner of Russia, and won several folk art festivals.

Through their constant innovation, and expansion of repertoire, the group has managed to obliterate the barriers of language and culture, as was evident in the enthusiastic response of the audience.

APS MALHOTRA

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