Compagnie de Danse "Oural" de Tcheliabinsk

It is not often that I feel impelled to post a blog article which has nothing to do with home exchange, but this week has prompted one such occasion. Taking time off to enjoy a performance by La Compagnie de Danse "Oural" de Tcheliabinsk from Russia in our neighbouring village, I was so impressed by their performance and the beautiful traditional costumes worn by the group that I felt I must mention it so that anyone else spending time in France in the vicinity of Confolens might go along and enjoy their performance too. The Festival of Confolens is a well-known summer festival of Dance and Music of the World, taking place this year between the 9th and 15th August, but prior to the festival many of the groups offer performances in the local 'Salles Polyvolantes' of the surrounding areas. The company has been described as the Bolchoi of traditional dance and you cannot imagine anything better or more realistically representative of the tradition and music of the great region of the Oural. The orchestra too is composed of artists who play an extraordinary number of popular instruments, 'chalumeau, gusli, domra, balalaikas and many others. If you have the opportunity to see La Compagnie de Danse "Oural" de Tcheliabinsk, be sure not to miss them and enjoy!