Rossijanochka, an energetic young dance troupe from Russia, will grace the stage at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts as part of the Center's "Artsbound" Schoolday Series. The performances will take place on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. As part of this residency there will be workshops with the company scheduled at the Quick Center following the performances. Participants will include a class from Park City Magnet School in Bridgeport and another from Holland Hill School in Fairfield.

Founded more than 50 years ago as a small dance ensemble, the St. Petersburg-based folk dancers have grown into a skilled troupe of more than 100. The seasoned dancers have performed at folk festivals from France and England to Japan, India and Angola, as well as the Olympic Games in Munich, Montreal and Moscow. Since 1985, Alexander Nosikhin, the son of the troupe's founder, has been its artistic director and choreographer, a role that won him the coveted "Honored Art Worker" medal from the Russian government in 1996.

Many of Rossijanochka's dances bring to life the age-old folk stories of the Russian culture and other folk traditions of the world. Courtship is a recurring theme in Russian folk dancing and the dancers, who range in age from 10 to 22, often act out scenes of one-upsmanship, in which the boys try to outdo each other in dramatic feats to win a girl's affections. Known for an athletic quality akin to gymnasts, the dancers weave props such as jump ropes into their exhilarating program.

About 6 10- to 12-year-olds will be joined by 10 14- to 22-year-olds for the Quick Center performance. The dancers change their colorful handmade costumes for each dance and two groups means there will always be action on the stage.

In addition to its dance program, Rossijanochka uses appearances as a springboard for cultural exchange. In an effort to help the audience connect with the 16 dancers, the troupe starts the show with an "up close and personal" video of the dancers going to school, rehearsing and enjoying their native St. Petersburg. A question and answer session will follow the performance.

Tickets are $5 and are available for school groups and individuals. The Quick Center's Outreach programming is sponsored in part by Regina A. Quick, The Educational Foundation of American, The Fairfield Kiwanis Club and the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation. A comprehensive study guide is available to accompany this residency. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396 or visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 09-30-2002 09:09 AM

Volume: 35 Number: 51