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THE FESTIVAL OF THE CLASSICAL BALLET NAMED AFTER ALLA SHELEST

The aim and the mission of the Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest are:
● Promotion of the best achievements of the native and the world choreography art;
● Keeping up the traditions of the classical ballet;
● Acquantance with the creative achievements of the world star ballet performers;
● Initiation of the positive cultural image of the Samara region as a big native and the world choreography center;
● Paying tribute to the memory of the outstanding person of the Russian choreographic art Alla Yakovlevna Shelest, who devoted several years of her life to Samara and Samara Opera House.

The Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest is one of the most important cultural traditions of the province. It was founded upon the initiative of the art historian, honoured cultural worker of the Russian Federation Svetlana Khumarian and is held in Samara since 1994. During this period within the context of the festival more than 60 actions were held, about 60 thousand spectators visited the performances and the concerts of the festival.

Alla Shelest is one of the most remarkable names in the history of the Russian ballet of the ХХ century. Nearly 25 years she danced on the famous stage of St.Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre (in those times it was Leningrad theatre named after S.Kirov). In 1970-1973 years Alla Shelest headed the ballet company of our theatre. So the appearance of the Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest was quite natural. The festival gathers the best Russian ballet dancers to pay tribute to the memory of Alla Shelest. During the period of its functioning thanks to the festival spectators could see such ballet stars as U.Lopatkina, D.Vishneva, L.Semenyaka, N.Semizorova, N.Gracheva, N.Ciscaridze, A.Uvarov, N.Ledovskaya, А.Fadeev, G.Stepanenko, А.Antonicheva, G.Smilevsky and many others. Among the guests of the festival were N.Dolgushin, M.Rostropovich. Thanks to the Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest Samara has become one of the largest choreografic centers in Russia.

In 2003 International Committee on awards, marks and symbols of the highest civil recognition awarded to the Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest the order of Cathrine the Great “for the keeping up the traditions of St.Petersburg school of classical ballet and contribution into a world choreography”.

In 2011 the Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest was awarded a membership in the European Festivals Association and thereby entering the international culture space.

Alla Yakovlevna Shelest attended the first festivals. This great ballerina died in 1998. Тhen the festival “in honor of Alla Shelest” has been renamed into a festival “named after Alla Shelest”. During the last 15 years eleven festivals were organised with various intervals.

Since 2001 the festival develops according to the concept of the diversity of the artistic legacy of Alla Shelest. Every ballet forum has its own thematic filling: “Dreams of white masterpieces”, “Profiles of the modern ballet”, “Pearls of choreodrama”, ‘Dance soul”.

From 21st to 30th of October, 2011 XI-th Festival of the classical ballet named after Alla Shelest “Choreogfaphis masterpieces” will be held on the stage of Samara Opera House.