SoCultures Magazine 2018 SoCultures Magazine November 2018 | Page 45

SoCultures November 2018
Russia is an outstanding name in the world of classical
music, drama, ballet and theater… It has a very rich
and incredible history behind its journey. And it
continues to impact the world cultures with its glory.
When we explore the Russian world of theater, its roots find some relevance with
the pagan shows, which are full of dramatic recitations of fables, tales, proverbs,
singing , dancing usually performed by the Skomorokhi ( minstrel entertainers in
Kievan and Muscovite Russia and they performed for public and Tsar alike).
Though exact details are not known but it is said to be during the 1644 during the
Michael I of Russia that the theaters begun.
It was during 1672, which saw the opening of the first theater and it was during the
court of Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich.
In the 19 th century, Moscow and St. Petersburg became the center of theatrical life.
The 1824 saw the popularity of the beginning of Maly (small theater) and Bolshoi
(big theater) in around year 1825. Sergei Diaghilev’s ballet company captured the
minds and hearts of the world which also left incredible mark in Europe. It later
came to be known as the Ballets Russes. This helped making Russian culture
become popular with the English ballet dancers getting familiarized and adopting
Russian pseudonyms.
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