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“Spring Ball” in “Sholokhov Centre”

On March 13, “Sholokhov Centre” of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov gave a “Spring Ball” organized by the Museum and historical club “Gallant Age is a Wonderful Era”.

“Sholokhov Centre”, situated in the building which is a unique monument of culture and architecture of the XIX century, got into the atmosphere of the time of Leo Tolstoy. There is an exhibition devoted to the life and work of the great writer, who lived in the time when the ball was an integral part of the high society life.

Count Tolstoy was well aware of the balls in details; when young, he often attended the balls and later described them in his works.

The ladies and gentlemen arrived at 16.00. All they were wearing evening dresses in the style of the XIX century. In the dressing room the ladies could make use of the service of a coiffeur, a ball stylist, to bring their look to perfection.

According to the tradition, the ball was opened with a Polonaise and a ceremonial dance procession followed by waltzes changing one another: Spanish waltz, the waltz of Duke Kent, the waltz of Lois XV and the “Waltz Fa-Major”, the only musical composition of L.N.Tolstoy.

The dances changed each other, and the guests asked to repeat and danced to the same music several times.

The ball members, in the dance language, “reread” the scene of the first ball of Natasha Rostova from the novel “The War and Peace”. The personages of L.N.Tolstoy appeared in the hall: Piere Bezukhov and Helen, Natasha Rostova and Andrey Bolkonsky. The public was shown the first dance of Natasha Rostova performed by Viktoriya Ryzhova, a student of the College of Culture, and Artyom Chernyshov, a member of the club “Gallant Age is a Wonderful Era”, who acted Andrey Bolkonsky.

The ball guests were entertained with master-classes, dance compositions, bouts rimes, forfeits and ball mail to exchange messages and elect the king and the queen of the ball.

The members enjoyed the ball and shared their impressions:

“For a long time I haven’t felt such a high spirit! The organizers did their best to recreate the atmosphere of the XIX century. The atmosphere of the ball was brightly felt in the beautiful building of “Sholokhov Centre” and it made the Sunday evening so unique and fine! I hope to join such a ball again some time. Thank you for the opportunity to dance and communicate acting a lady of the XIX century at the brilliant ball of the time of Leo Tolstoy! Mariya Apilevich.”

“Novocherkassk has become even nearer to Rostov. The organizers held a wonderful evening. It was great! It was a success to make a common performance for all, to create a warm and festive atmosphere. In everyday life we are shy of manifesting secular manners, and it is not good. Politeness, courtesy and gallantry have always been honoured, and dances help to comprehend this wisdom. Thank you. Viktor Moiseyuk.”

“Great thanks to the organizers for the wonderful evening! We felt ourselves at home. We enjoyed the time visiting you! We hope for further cooperation. Family dance club “Reverans”, Novocherkassk.”

The impressions of the members of the “Spring Ball” are comparable to the feelings of Natasha Rostova, which Tolstoy called “the highest stage of happiness, when a person becomes kind and good, and does not believe in the possibility of evil, misery and grief.”

If you couldn’t join the ball, you can learn about the time of Tolstoy visiting the exhibition “When You Can’t but Write…” which will run on in “Sholokhov Centre” until April 16.

Natalya Kazinskaya
Yuliya Baboshkina