May 20th and 21st, South Ural State University hosted the 14th Spring Rhythm Festival of Contemporary Choreography, which was attended by youth teams, creative teams, and individual participants of different ages—from the youngest dancers of 3 years old and up to mixed groups of adult participants.
Ekaterina Galanova, the leader of the project and the head of SUSU Deep Vision dance theatre, welcomed the guests and participants:
"There are a lot of spectators in the hall today, and that’s very nice! So I suggest that you support all the participants, because the festival is, above all, about the opportunity to share their creativity and receive support.”
Contest participants performed in the following categories:
• Baby Show (3-6 years old);
• Children’s Solo (4-7);
• Street Show (7+);
• Street Show Girls (12+);
• Patriotic Dance (7+);
• Show Dance (7+);
• Pop (3+);
• Contemporary Choreography: modern jazz, contemporary (3+);
• Seniors (30+).
The SUSU Deep Vision dance theatre and dance team also participated in the festival, performing in all of the categories with unique numbers and various participants, both by age and by team composition.
The performances were evaluated by famous choreographers, dancers, professionals, including Daniil Vereshchagin, Marina Izhetskaya, Vladislav Morozov and Sergey Rytov. Some of them were visiting Chelyabinsk for the first time.
"This is my first time at this competition, and from what I've been able to see so far, this is more of a moment for beginners, so it's a preview of contestants who are just taking their first steps on the dance path. I had great and striking impressions and it was a lot of fun in the hall! Of course, we will give the kids recommendations for their further professional development," says Daniil Vereshchagin, a teacher, choreographer and chairman of the competition jury.
Daniil also added that he would love to come to this festival and to our city in the future.
For two days, children and adults from all over the region performed in different roles with unique numbers, providing the audience, judges, and other participants with unforgettable emotions. Although the festival was held for the 14th time, each year it gains momentum and becomes more interesting and diverse, expanding the range of dance styles and the range of participants.
"Of course, before and after the performance we experience a lot of emotions, we get nervous. When you sit in the auditorium, you almost don't feel the jitters, but as soon as you are backstage, of course, you get scared. Dancing gives us the strength and confidence that at any moment we can get up and dance; we learn and create the numbers with our teachers. Of course, we aim to get prizes, but even if we get, for example, 5th place, this just becomes motivation to improve, because for us it is also important to charge the audience and jury with emotions," festival participant Eva Filaretova said, sharing her impressions.
The Deep Vision theatre, under the direction of choreographer Ekaterina Galanova, won two Grand Prix with the numbers “Icebreaker” (pop dance, adults, small form) and “Fifteen to Four” (contemporary choreography, adults, small form), and two 1st places with the numbers “Lilit” (contemporary choreography, adults, formation) and “Pas de Quatre” (contemporary choreography, juniors, small form). Contemporary dance group Deep Vision, under the direction of Mariia Rokhlis, took 1st place with the number “Minus 30” (variety dance, mixed group, formation).