Tiraspol, 7 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The Pridnestrovian National Company of Dance and Folk Music Viorika has made a grand tour of Europe for the first time in eight years. The tour comprised the participation in the South Festival which took part from 29 July to 29 August in three countries at once: France, Switzerland and Spain.
«Companies from all continents, including from the ex-USSR, were invited to the festival. Among them were companies from, for example, North Ossetia, Buryatia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, as well as from Taiwan, Indonesia, Latin America, Brazil, Cuba, Africa, Chile and many other countries," said Viorika choreographer Igor Chobanu.
He specified that the company managed to get an invitation to this festival thanks to the acquaintance they had made eight years ago during a concert in the Baltic region.
«A manager from Kishinev had spotted us. And eight years later we received an invitation to a festival in Europe. Taking part in it, we wanted first of all to show the richness of our culture, with its dances and songs. The festival lasted 30 days. It turns out we spent 10 days in each country. Festival organisers had scheduled a very interesting programme. A lot of concerts were given in those days. It should be noted that it was Viorika that performed last in each of them," said Igor Chobanu.
Participating in a festival of this level is a splendid opportunity to compare our skills to those of our foreign colleagues, performing both in professional and amateur companies, Vorika dancers believe.
«Besides concerts, and some of them took place in halls admitting over a thousand spectators, we held many dancing and vocal master classes. They were very popular. Although the festival is not a contest, taking part in the event of this level, you want to show yourself, the cultural richness of your homeland. I hope we have succeeded, and new invitations will follow," concluded the Viorika choreographer.
The company's immediate plans include, according to him, a concert tour in the republic.
«I am proud to have an opportunity to share the culture of my homeland with other people. It was very pleasant to hear a storm of applause and bravo shouts after each concert. Very often we were requested to perform an encore. Spectators' acknowledgement is the most important thing for a dancer," says a young Viorika dancer, Yana Shvets.
The girl confessed that the language barrier had not been an obstacle in communicating with colleagues from other countries. The Pridnestrovians made friends with participants from other countries, told them about Pridnestrovie and its customs, listened to their stories, exchanged professional skills.
The company's creative director and composer Alexander Galatsan underscores Viorika deserved this tour.
«I say it again, and modesty is out of place here. Both our group and repertoire had been prepared for that. The participation in the festival has given very good professional impetus to the company. Our young people have realised that there are new challenges ahead. We have established new contacts, received some good proposals. Viorika have visited many countries over these years (in 2015 the company marked its 70th anniversary, ed.), but it was the first festival of such a level. We have been seen, and I think our work will come to a new level," said Alexander Galatsan.
