Understanding world cultures better

Shamila Jamaluddin, Staff Reporter

The Russian Ballet and Dance school, Abu Dhabi, recently held its annual ballet show ‘Glamorous’ in the Capital’s Manarat Al Saadiyat Auditorium, Abu Dhabi.

 It provided a platform for talented young ballerinas aged three to seventeen, from UAE, Russia, Britain, America, Egypt, Syria, China and from around the world. They showcased their ballet skills enthralling the audience for a couple of hours.

 Last weekend Ballet Glamorous presented ‘Time to Shine’ which consisted of thirty-two types of dances in a variety of different styles.

 ‘Glamorous’ performances included the Arabian Dance, Indian, Gypsy and Russian among many other varieties namely ‘Waltz of the Flowers’, ‘Swan Lake’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Forest Dwarfs’, ‘Arabian Desert’, ‘Jungle Book’, ‘Kalinka’,  ‘Kitri – Don Quixote’, ‘Send in the Clowns’, ‘Polka Tric-Trak’, ‘Snow Flakes’ to name a few.

 Programme part two contained ‘Gypsi’, ‘Samba’, ‘Jazz’, ‘Live Song’, ‘Rock-N-Roll’,  ‘Dancing Fool’, ‘Live Song’, ‘Sing Sing’,  ‘Move your Body (Finale)’ among others.

 Increasing numbers of families in the Capital, both expats and locals, are choosing ballet for their children, to bring out their dancing prowess.

 Professional choreographer Gulnara Alekseeva, from the Russian Ballet and Dance’ school, Abu Dhabi, a personal fitness and Pilates trainer, told Gulf Today, “Ballet training becomes for ‘Glamorous’ kids a part of their lives.”

 “Children are training two to four times per week, working hard in developing their strength, mobility, flexibility and much more.”

 Alekseeva also pays special gratitude to parents who support their children in this hard and not so easy training. “Parents feel and are sure that regular physical training helps their children to face the future with confidence. They believe that it develops in them strength and a great personality.”

“Ballet dancing also contributes to improving their health, help them in their education, developing better understanding of world cultures,” added Alekseeva, who currently holds many degrees in Exercise Science, Pilates and Fitness Studies.

“Girls are being trained two to three times a week with classes ranging from one and half hours to three hours, depending on the age of the dancers,” quipped Alekseeva.