Russian School of Ballet and Dancing under Russian House in Colombo announces more intakes

• Exams from 26 to 29 Sept. and workshops on 30 Sept.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing under the Russian House in Colombo is expanding the classes in order to give more opportunities to a larger number of students who are on the waiting list aspiring to learn ballet. 

In keeping with its standards, the Russian School of Ballet from 26 to 29 September will hold annual examinations conducted under the patronage of Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. Prior to the exams, students are encouraged to participate in workshops organised by Karnovich on 30 September to acquire more insight into the field of ballet.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing commenced its activities in the year 2001. It started off with four little girls, all eager to learn and master the art of ballet. Ballet is one of the main disciplines, Russian House in Colombo has to offer out of the vast cultural heritage of Russia. The school was initiated under the patronage of Mikkkhail Ustinov – then Director of the Russian Centre and CEO Buddhapriya Ramanayaka with Galina Pleshakova who is a native Russian Classical Ballet instructor who was passionate in sharing her education of ballet with the young students of Sri Lanka.

The school was conceptualised and standardised by Chandi Aluvihare, Cultural Officer of the Russian Centre in 2001.

The Ballet School of the Russian Centre is soon catching up with its own title of Russian School of Ballet.

While it was limited to just four students at the inception, the number has now grown close to 1,000 students walking in and out every day, to and from their ballet lessons. The Russian School of Ballet is dedicated to the classical art of Russian Ballet that has been passed down through generations in the past few centuries. As the number of students at the Ballet School faced a significant rise within the past few years, a larger number of instructors/teachers have been brought in. 

Currently, the school has over few hundred students learning classical ballet under the guidance of Galina Pleshakova, the founder who is ably assisted by Samantha Samararathne, Niluka Madurawala, Radisha Bodiyabadu, a group of assistant teachers, Kavishka Prematilake, Shenaalie Dias, Samindi De Silva and Vichara Udawatte who hold the distinction of being past students of the School.

Students of the school acquire and learn the principles of ballet and gain poise, confidence and grace along the way. Annual concerts are organised and held in grand style and are attended by a large number of proud parents, well-wishers and lovers of ballet.