RUSSIA’S history and culture will come to life when Kostroma comes to Mandurah in October.
The Russian dance company’s high-energy production takes the audience on a journey through their traditional performance art.
Executive director Maria Veshkina, who has been with the dance company since she was 16, said it was going to be a spectacle which Mandurah would not have seen before.
“It’s a new way of presenting a folk dance show,” she said.
“For some people they have heard of Russia but they’ve never been.
“This gives them a chance to learn about the history and the culture of it.
“People don’t realise how diverse the Russian culture is.
“We use costumes, choreography, props and lighting to get that across.”
The dance company is unique, even in its home country.
There are only six folk dance schools in Russia and Kostroma owns one of them.
However, Ms Veshkina said the dance company’s school is the only one which produced dancers who completely understood what Kostroma was about.
“When we get dancers from other schools, it takes them two years to completely understand what we want from them,” she said.
“Our school takes them from aged 13 and they spend five years there.
“When they join the company at 18 you don’t need to teach them anything because they already know the choreography and the discipline which is expected from them.
“They are already trained in it and can handle it.”
Kostroma will bring 10 tonnes of freight, including 600 individually designed costumes, 300 props and eight sets, for 45 dancers to bring Russia to life in Mandurah.
While many other dance companies would try to minimise the amount of freight needed, Veshkina said it was the only way they could get their message across.
“That’s what makes the show, the show,” she said.
“We don’t want to compromise on that just to save money.”
Kostroma will be at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on October 7.
For more information go to manapc.com.au or call 9550 3900.
