The performance marks the 70th anniversary of the Beryozka Dance Ensemble’s first visit to China. In 1955, the Beryozka Dance Ensemble made its first visit to China and created a sensation at the Tianqiao Theatre. In 2018, the Ensemble appeared at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. 70 years has passed so far, and it’s going to create greater brilliance this time. Each dance is a fresh footnote to China-Russia cultural exchange, and even a vivid testament to the friendship between the two nations.

 

 

If you have watched a performance given by the Beryozka Dance Ensemble, you will remember it all your life and feel excited whenever thinking of it. It is no exaggeration to say that the Beryozka Dance Ensemble is even able to make smiles on a gloomy face. Just imagine that a group of tall, beautiful girls are gliding gracefully toward you - their long red skirts bring out the best in their unique national ethos. When they are dancing, they seem not to move, their footwork even invisible to the eye. This creates an illusion that they are floating on the stage or the stage is revolving around them. They each hold a birch branch, singing as they dance, “On the ground stands a birch tree…”. That’s a moment when you can smell the scent and romance of spring, one reminiscent of the rolling wild plains and immense birch forests in Russia.

 

1. Opening Music
Composer: Russian meritorious actor F. Galichkov
2. Women’s Poussette Little Birch Tree
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
3. Men’s Dance Song of Accordion
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
4. Women’s Dance Autumn
Choreographer: People’s actress of former Soviet Union, M. Galitsova
5. Dance Bench
Choreographer: People’s actress of former Soviet Union, M. Galitsova
6. Women’s Dance The Stream
Choreographer: People’s actress of former Soviet Union, M. Galitsova
7. Men’s Dance Lumber Jack
Choreographer: People’s actress of former Soviet Union, M. Galitsova
8. Women’s Dance In the Birch Forest
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina

 

1. Women’s Dance Northern Lights
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
2. Men’s Dance Song of Groom
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
3. Women’s Dance Star River
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
4. Men’s Dance The Happy Bachelors
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
5. Northern Russian Folk Poussette
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
6. Headscarf Dance
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
7. Siberian Suite Dance
Choreographer: N. Nadezhdina
(Composed of “Gathering”, “Celebration”, “Carnival”)

 

Beryozka Dance Ensemble
Founded in 1948 by Russian people’s actress H.C. Nadezhdina, the Beryozka Dance Ensemble is a traditional cultural treasure of Russia on par with the Bolshoi Theatre. Now it is an art ensemble directly under the Presidential Administration of Russia, honoured as the “most beautiful image ambassador of Russia”. Since its founding, the Ensemble has toured more than 100 countries across five continents, appearing on a lot of major international cultural diplomatic occasions such as the APEC Summit. In 2004, the Ensemble received commendations from the Russian Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, becoming a cultural symbol of Russia.

 

In 1955, the Beryozka Dance Ensemble paid its first visit to China, giving 28 performances in Beijing, Shanghai and other places. In 1965, the year marking the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, the Ensemble made its second visit to China, enhancing the friendship between the two countries.

 

 

In 2004, the Ensemble received commendations from the Russian Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. In 2006, it became an art ensemble directly under the Presidential Administration of Russia.

 

As Russian President’s special messenger for international cultural exchange, the Ensemble frequently appears on international stages to showcase the charm and elegant demeanour of Russia. In September 2012, it performed at the “APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting” as a cultural and artistic symbol of the Russian government at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its performing arts have truly become a classic representative of the Russian culture. In 2018, the Ensemble gave a performance at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala to celebrate the Chinese New Year together with the Chinese people. At that moment, the dancers entered millions of Chinese households through TV screens, becoming an unforgettable memory in the Chinese people’s hearts.