Vainakh and Zazan – world culture conquers Astana

On 28 September, the Chechen State Academic Dance Ensemble Vainakh performed on the stage of the State Concert Organization Qazaq Concert named after Rosa Baglanova. The performance took place as part of the Russian Seasons international project, which is carried out for the first time in the Republic of Kazakhstan and is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“I am especially pleased to say that the Vainakh dance ensemble is a reflection of everything that is inherent in the culture of the Caucasus: on the one hand, traditions and history, and on the other, passion, emotionally charged atmosphere, and effervescence of the dance. This is what we value and love so much in the art of Chechen dancers. I thank our Kazakh friends for the warm welcome.

I would like to emphasize that national and ethnic art receives enormous support from the Russian state. Both Chechens and other peoples of Russia have the opportunity to fully adhere to their traditions, their history, their culture, being self-aware as representatives of their ethnic group in their own right, on the one hand, and as citizens of the Russian Federation, on the other, ” noted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin.

The Vainakh ensemble, led by People’s Artist of Russia Ramzan Akhmadov, presents Chechen culture and national dances of the peoples of the North Caucasus – including the legendary Lezginka, worldwide. The company was awarded with the Grand Prix of international competitions and festivals; it toured in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, San Salvador, Costa Rica, Portugal, Jordan, Turkey and now in Kazakhstan.

This original and vibrant Chechen company presented a choreographic program of national dances of the Caucasus to the Kazakh audience. The dancers demonstrated honed performing skills and the splendor of national costumes, giving the audience an unforgettable experience and inspiration.

“We are very pleased to visit Kazakhstan at the invitation of Russian Seasons and perform for Kazakh audience. This country is very close to us. We have been here several times before to present a couple of dances. Now we had the opportunity to perform a full program. I hope we have lived up to the audience’s great expectations and laudatory epithets that our company heard here,” said Ramzan Akhmadov, Artistic director of the Vainakh Dance Ensemble.

The performance was not the final event of the Vainakh company’s stay in Kazakhstan. On 29 September, the leading choreographers of the ensemble conducted nine master classes, in which youth dance groups from Kazakhstan took part, including the ZAZAN Lezginka school and the Chechen-Ingush folk dance ensemble “Vainakh”. Choreographers shared their experience in pair dances, male and female dances for different age groups.

The day before, Svetlana Kondratyeva, director of the ANO for promoting concert activities Russian Seasons, spoke about the performance of the Vainakh ensemble and master classes on Sputnik Kazakhstan:

«На сцене «Казахконцерта» выступят коллективы из Астаны – «ZAZAN» и чечено-ингушский ансамбль «Вайнах» – вместе с чеченским государственным ансамблем танца «Вайнах». На площадке Русского дома и других площадках пройдут мастер-классы для участников этих коллективов и всех желающих любителей танца. Благодарим наших коллег, Россотрудничество и Посольство России в Казахстане, за помощь в организации мастер-классов».

“The companies from Astana – ZAZAN and the Chechen-Ingush ensemble “Vainakh” will participate in the performance of the Chechen State Dance Ensemble Vainakh on the Qazaq Concert stage. Master classes will be held at the Russian House and other venues for members of these groups and all interested dance lovers. We thank our colleagues, Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan, for their assistance in organizing the master classes.”

We express our gratitude to the general information partner of the Russian Seasons project, the international news agency Sputnik Kazakhstan! Sputnik – up-to-date information about events in Kazakhstan and the world. Follow the news on the website and telegram channel Sputnik Kazakhstan.