June 10, 2012
On Sunday, June 10, 2012 the 6th RACH-C international “Children’s Festival of Russian Culture” dedicated to the birthday of Alexander Pushkin went to Broadway — the Peter Norton Symphony Space theater at 95th Street.
More than 100 children in 7 Ensemble groups participated in what was generally hailed as a remarkable exhibition of talent, enthusiasm and just good fun. The transition from Fort Tryon Park, where the festival is generally held, to the indoor theater resulted in a different dynamic but an equally huge success. Participants rose in their seats to interact with performers in song and dance on numerous occasions and they and the performers left excited and in high spirits.
RACH-C is very grateful to our major sponsors, the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in New York City and Lukoil North America LLC., for their generous support and to our media sponsors ITAR-TASS and REPORTER for helping publicize the event.
We give special thanks to Consul General Andrey Yushmanov who has encouraged us in so many ways including his presence at this event and his touching remarks to the audience.
Our overwhelming thanks to many volunteers without whom the Festival and all our work would not be possible. We cannot name all but we do thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts.
Time limitations forced us to reduce the number of groups that could be presented at the theater but we were able to select some who offered exceptional talent and unusual professionalism. It is important to recognize that their remarkable professionalism did not just happen, it was the result of their dedicated, able leaders who must be commended for helping the children embrace their cultural heritage and develop their personal talents. Besides groups from the New York Metropolitan area, we were joined by a group that traveled all the way from Toronto Canada to join us.
Between acts, we had the wonderful Sasha and the Indulgents, a young bilingual singer-performer with a beautiful voice and a great repertoire.
The festival was greeted with a message by Willy Tokarev who sent his daughter Evelina Tokareva, to sing and introduce his latest composition, a song called “Children of the World.”
Press about the Festival (in Russian): Interview with Dr. Olga Zatsepina by New York Plus Plus / ITAR TASS / Audio Interview by Voice of Russia / Ruschurchusa.org / Video from TVC / Russian Bazaar / MSRS / Reporter.ru
Here are the names of the groups and their leaders in order of their appearance:
- Evelina Tokareva (daughter of composer/poet Wili Tokarev)
- The Golden Rooster
- Brighton Ballet Theater
- Cool School – Academy of Show Business & TV for Kids & Teens
- The Albright School
- Krasnaya Kalyna
- Pesvebi (of the Dancing Crane Ensemble)
- Music & Art Studio “Allegretto”
- Sasha Papernik (of Sasha and the Indugents)