Melting snow and the arrival of spring marks the end of Kudrinka’s year and time for new plans. In mid-March and mid-April, Kudrinka’s loyal Moscow fans are treated to two “Otchyotniy Konserts” – two completely different concerts of over 35 dances each that give the ensemble a chance to show off their full range of performances. Every member of Kudrinka participates, from the youngest age 5-7, the youngsters age 8 to 10, the middle group from 11 to 14, and the senior and adult group.
 Old City Kadrille |
The opening number, Old City Kadrille, is a traditional Russian folk dance that was originally derived from a French royal dance. This is an old favorite, and we see group leader Alexei Salnikov and his son Petr on stage with other veterans Azim Kasimov and Makar Vasiliev.
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 Off to a Fast Start |
 Chetvyorka (Four) |
This first concert featured a favorite, Chetvyorka or Four, with two male and two female dancers, a dance that brings a gasp to the audience at its culmination.
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 Oh my aching knees |
 Penguin Tap |
As a regular, I have my favorites, but each year Kudrinka’s leaders add new dances to the repertoire – some modern, tap, or character dances. One of this years new dances is a piece called Penguin Tap performed by the middle group. Cute costumes. Matroshki, a Russian traditional dance on the theme of Matroshka dolls, has been performed by Kudrinka’s younger girls for many years.
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 Matroshki (Matroshka dolls) |
 C Yarmaka (at the market) |
The costumes are wonderful, the dance skills are great, but I particularly enjoy the expressions, the beaming smiles, and the silent acting skills of these performers. Many of the dances are not just folk movements but reflect the origins of folk dance in village merrymaking and clowning. They tell stories, like this Ukrainian dance, C Yarnaka or At the Market – the girls have come to retrieve their husbands after a day in the market.
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 You're Coming Home! |
 Tabakeryaska (Moldova) |
Everyone loves the big dances, lots of colorful costumes, leaps, and exciting music, but even in these dances there can be humorous moments and with the Kudrinka performers expressions, you can tell they’re having a great time.
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 Where are the girls? |
Text by Charles Borden, Photos of Vladimir Sazanov
The following appeared in Passport Moscow (October 2010)
 The Water Truck |
Babye Leto (grandmother’s summer), a spell of mild, beautiful and fresh weather under clear skies visits Moscow in September. One of the city’s favorite gathering places is the city overlook at Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) with the ski jump and embankment down to the Moscow River and Luzhniki park and stadium below and the magnificent main building of Moscow State University (MGU) behind.
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 Miraslava Karpovich |
This Sunday, amid the residents and tourists, wedding parties and tour buses, Russian Director Alexander Guz turned the lawn in front of MGU into a film set with television starlet Miraslava Karpovich (Papa’s Daughters). Sixteen young dancers from Moscow’s Kudrinka Dance Ensemble joined her for the scene: It’s summer and very hot. The kids are lounging on the lawn enjoying music from a boom box. They call a radio station to request a tune, and on a whim ask for a cooling rain. Then the Surprise – a city water truck rolls up and sprays the group. They run through the spray and finish with a dance to “Rock ‘n’ Roll is King” on the lawn.
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 The Kite Salesman |
The Catch – it’s not hot. Today it’s under 15 degrees, the water is cold and, as usual in the film business, there were many takes. A stray mother dog shows up. A kite salesman resents that his usual spot has been commandeered and continues to fly kites over the set. The Sunday crowd, bundled in jackets, wander into the background giving the continuity crew fits – it is summer after all.
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Text and photos by Charles Borden
Russia has two great holidays at the beginning of May, May Day on the first, and Victory Day on May 9. In recent years, Kudrinka has performed at special May Day events on Moscow’s Tverskaya Street in front of the Mayor’s office not far from Red Square. For this celebration the entire down town section of Tverskaya, (which is the Moscow equivalent of New York’s Fifth Avenue or Paris’ Champ d’Elysee), is closed to traffic. On Victory Day Kudrinka had the honor to perform at Moscow’s Victory Park.
Seventeen dancers from Moscow’s Kudrinka Dance Ensemble took a top prize at the Cathy Roe Ultimate Dance Competition and Convention in Mason, Ohio – Best Entertainers. They were also selected for a Dance Spectacular Celebration of Broadway musicals, for which they performed a their own choreography for “To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof. The Kudrinka dancers then traveled to Chicago and on to Fairfield, Iowa where they performed their “Moscow Windows” concert at the Stephen Sondheim Theater to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.
