At the end of the year

Cultural Centre "Mir" on New Year's Eve

In today's issue, Director of the Cultural Centre "Mir" Eleonora Yamaleeva talks about the programme the on-stage performance groups of the Cultural Centre have prepared for the citizens of Dubna for New Year and about the work behind it, as well as about what cultural workers and art groups are going to prepare for New Year in 2023.

On New Year's Eve, in the atmosphere of the approaching holiday, I want to talk about the good and magical, about creativity, talent and art, feeling the aura of pre-New Year's miracle. Of course, we try to create the atmosphere ourselves, this is our job and we do it exclusively with a positive attitude. There is no other way, it is a prerequisite for work...

The New Year's performances are already very close. I'll tell you who takes part in them and how. During the holidays, our stage will host Christmas parties for children, an ice show, a ballet, a performance, a concert by the on-stage performance groups of the JINR Cultural Centre "Mir" and a fair of Dubna craftsmen. And on any of these days, our guests will be able to visit the exhibition hall, where an exhibition called "Non-permafrost" will be presented. This is a project of the JINR Artists' Club "Quarks" based on the fairy tale "The Snow Queen" by H.H.Andersen.

Christmas parties will be held on 25 December at 12.00 and 16.00. In the large hall, children together with their parents will be able to see the play "Morozko" of the Moscow Provincial Theater, Artistic Director of which is S.V.Bezrukov. And in order to feel the fullness of the holiday, in the exhibition hall, before the start of the performance, traditional round dances and a game programme with the Theater-Laboratory "Kvadrat" will wait for children

On 2 January at 14.00, we will show a real ice show "New Year's Eve Dream" on our stage. It will be presented by the Ice Factory Theatre. I advise you and your kids to come to see the ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by the New Classical Ballet on 5 January at 17.00. We promise a magic mood!

We also prepare a programme for adults. I would especially like to invite theater-goers to the romantic comedy "Snow Waltz" on 4 January at 18.00. The play is based on "Captured in the Snow" by contemporary English playwright Peter Quilter, whose works have been translated into 27 languages and performed in more than 40 countries. Wonderful actors Mariya Poroshina and Yaroslav Boyko will take the stage of the Cultural Centre "Mir". The audience will be treated to a bright fairy show filled with laughter, romance and an opportunity to breathe in a bit of a snowy miracle!! The ballet, the ice show and the exhibition can and should definitely be visited by the whole family. We also invite everyone to the Christmas fair of Dubna craftsman on 6 January from 12.00 to 20.00.

We are once again preparing for the traditional Christmas concert of the on-stage performance groups of the Cultural Centre "Mir". It is scheduled for the final of the holiday week - January 8 at 16.00. On this day, the whole palette of our studios and groups that work in the Cultural Centre will be presented on stage. The Academic Choir "Belcanto" together with the Youth and Students Choir will perform with the ALTRI MUSE Piano Quartet, the choreographic groups "Fantasia" and "Dubna Ballet" will present their thematic performances. Vocal ensemble "Metelitsa", chamber choir "Credo", theater studio "Balaganchik", Flamenco dance school "Al-Andalus" and JINR dance club "Phylosophy Dance" will all come together on one stage and the audience, we hope, will feel the special atmosphere of a magical winter holiday.

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Music, theatre productions, creative meetings, exhibitions, vernissages... Work on the repertoire is always a very multifaceted process. And it is very important for us to take into account the wishes of the public, to keep track of what is current, while preserving the traditional and at the same time not missing out on novelties. Our partners are reliable people, we can safely trust them with their creative suggestions. We all work for the audience that means that our task is to present something that will resonate with a sold out notice! If we talk about performances, it is always important for me to know about what is going on in theaters, to read interviews with directors, stage directors, actors and critics. When we are able to present good performances to our audience, it is always a great success. As for concerts, we rely on the tour organizers and choose the best ones for ourselves from their offers...

And I also really want actors, musicians, creative people to remember a visit to us from the best side. By the way, this is important for our services that sincerely try to do everything well! Despite the fact that we have 12-13 events per month, there are a lot of meetings, but there are some that are remembered forever. This usually happens when we record interviews with them (over 250 already). Then we communicate in a professional language and discuss non-trivial topics. There are times when we hold joint rehearsals for several hours and also reach a certain level of mutual understanding, develop creative plans, think over new projects.

To give names, this year, the strongest impressions come from the artists of the group "Gorod 312", Sergey Zhilin, Nikolai Nikolaevich Drozdov, Vadim Eilenkrig and Daniil Kramer. The events were unique. And I would also like to work on our joint project "Music Talk" with the Dubna Symphony Orchestra in the future, in my opinion, it can have a great future!

On New Year's Eve, I would like to say a few words about our audience. The audience that comes to us is the best! They often write to us or simply tell us what they would like to see and whom they would like us to invite. The audience is very respectful of the artists, giving them long applause, the only downside is the almost total lack of flowers. Bouquets for artists have become a rarity, but I hope, everything will change and we for our part will try to invite flower shops to cooperate on event days. And since recently, we have organized a theatre buffet in Caf? "Vysotskiy" that also contributes to the location of the audience.

The Cultural Centre "Mir" is one of the divisions of the international Institute. Our cultural programme traditionally includes events that reflect the national interests and traditions of different nations. On the eve of New Year, we plan to hold a concert of JINR staff members from the State Members and their children, for which we currently prepare. We will certainly continue the Art&Science projects and the concerts of the series "Acquaintance through Music. Musical Heritage of JINR Member States".

In recent months, two on-stage performance groups from the JINR Association of Young Scientists and Specialists have started their work at the Cultural Centre "Mir": the dance club "Phylosophy Dance" and the Japanese fencing club "Kendo". And lovers of photography are invited to join the JINR photo club "Focus". Especially for everyone who wants to draw, the club of JINR artists "Quarks" has been established. There is a place for everyone in the world of creativity and our job is to take a step forward!

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate all the staff members of the Cultural Centre "Mir", all the artists, all the talented people that give the audience the joy of creativity, all the staff members of the Institute, our audience on the coming New Year and Christmas. I wish you all the best, goodwill, faith in the power of art and in the absolute unifying value of culture!

Photo by Igor LAPENKO

Read in the next issue:
Eleonora Yamaleeva's conversation with People's Artist of the Russian Federation Sergey Zhilin after his concert in Dubna.