At the beginning, the team had only eight children. Today, there are about 40 people who work in three different age subgroups: the youngest (from 3 to 5 years old), middle (from 6 to 8 years old) and the oldest (from 9 to 11 years old). The team even has its own “old-timers” - these are the guys who have been in the ensemble for three to four years: Vladik Pavlov, Sveta Miroshnikova, Egor Bakarasov, Marina Asmolova, Vlad and Alena Eliseeva. Their dancing skills are improving every day. The repertoire of each group has more than five dances, and this year all the children, regardless of age, have learned national Russian choreographic compositions.
How rich and varied the Russian dance is! If the younger group performs a dance about our beloved heroine - a matryoshka doll, and the middle one lights Russian fair motifs and shows a square dance, then the older group conquers everyone with a Russian round dance.
The head of the team is trying to put plot dances for young children that they understand, and the characters are familiar with. But in the older group, the guys are already studying style dance styles - country, street dance ("street dancing"), disco and many others.
Of course, the team could not survive without the help of parents: Natalia Bashmakova, Elena Alzarif, Irina Miroshnikova, Vasilisa Eliseeva, Guli Asmolova, Irina Pavlova, Tatyana Bakarasova. Costumes, sets, props are all the joint work of parents united by one desire - to teach their children to feel the rhythm and music, to move correctly and not be afraid of public speaking.
May 30, 2007 at the Grand Hotel in Sharjah, a concert was held by the ensemble "Smile", organized by the administration of the "Russian Music Center". The role of the host of the concert was taken by the benevolent and effective Tatyana Yurlova, the mother of the smallest and most diligent member of the team of Alechka Aldikka.
The concert began with the band's visiting card - the rousing dance "Smile", which is performed in completely "sunny" costumes with sunflowers from the middle and older groups. Then the dance marathon was continued by the smallest dancers. For the first time, having entered the big stage, they won the hearts of the audience with the fun dance "Polka". Many children had just finished school, and someone else had to take exams, so the older group presented to the audience their new dance miniature from school life to modern rhythms - “Students' Dance”. The kids danced the already famous and beloved "Caterpillar", where Masha Bashmakova performed the solo role of a bird.
A little later on the scene appear rosy girls in red sundresses and white kokoshniks. Russian round dance performed by a senior group! Everyone sitting in the hall felt a prick of homesickness. In continuation of the Russian theme, the dancers of the middle group cheerfully, fervently, recklessly and brightly danced the square dance "Mosaic". Who is this?
Young dancers literally "rolled out" onto the stage. Yes, these are real nesting dolls! Round, a little awkward, but so cute! The audience saw elements of modern dances in the "Friendly Family" dance performed by mischievous children from the middle group. And then we were taken somewhere very far away! In America! On the stage are the brave cowboys from the senior country dance group. Yellow, pink, purple, blue, turquoise, lilac, green - these are not the colors of the rainbow. These are shades of bright and original costumes of small animals "Tamagotchi" performed by the middle group "Smiles".
Well, who the hell are they? Green and scary? In fact, these are young kickimores who not only dance, but also sing a song about kickimore. These artists, like all the kids, are funny and cute, and even if their movements are awkward and uncoordinated, since they are only three to five years old, but they have enough enthusiasm for everyone.
Then teenagers in bright T-shirts, glasses and jeans with the most beloved dance - "Modern street motifs" run out onto the stage. It is evident that they do not just like to dance - they get real pleasure from this stage performance, dancing "street" steps. This is the style of teenagers, their environment and they understand it like no other.
And behind the scene a peppy "crack" is already heard. This “ducklings” from the younger group are ready to tell duck stories from the lives of their heroes again in the dance. And, finally, for “sweet” - everyone’s favorite dance “Barbie”, which has been used by dancers and spectators for several seasons. It was in this composition that one could see both the sharpness of movements, and the coherence of the team, and the professional growth of each dancer, expertly holding on stage in an adult way. The concert ended with a performance by the participants of the Smile ensemble, in which everyone was able to demonstrate their own demonstrative dance-acrobatic element. So what is next? Did the reporting concert go? Of course not.
The Smile team is growing and developing. Recently, a new direction has opened - drama circle. This is the first experience of an out-of-school Russian children's theater in the UAE. Over the past academic year, the theater has prepared three performances: "Fly-clatter", "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids" and "The Scarlet Flower". And this at one rehearsal per week! Even for large and reputable theaters this is a good result. No wonder professional actors say that children are difficult to replay.
The team of the children's theater creates not just a performance. It is rather a musical. All children sing and dance in it, which helps their musical, choreographic and recitative development. For young actors, knowing their role is very important. During rehearsals, everyone involved in the performance learns the roles of stage comrades. After all, how pleasant it is to help a friend, tell him forgotten words, and at the same time flaunt his knowledge of all the roles in the play. It’s a pity that such an opportunity is rarely presented, all actors know their words “by heart”, and if they forget, it’s only from excitement.
Even in the "Russian Music Center" in Sharjah there is a department of fine art. Young artists take part in the production of scenery for performances. The wonderful garden painted by the guys for The Scarlet Flower was truly fabulous.
Preparation for each performance is a separate adventure. It is necessary to come up with costumes, sets, curtains, pick up music, make phonograms, provide performance with musical equipment. Unfortunately, the theater has no sponsors, but there is a desire to create and unite creative people around it - both children and their parents. When announcing the name of the next performance and distribution of roles, the parental council is involved in the case. There is a heated discussion of costume designs, the necessary scenery and props. Then begins the purchase of the necessary fabrics and accessories, tailoring, fitting and demonstration of new man-made masterpieces. All parents come to the general “run” of the play. Peering through a click so as not to disturb the young actors, they share their impressions of the acting and, of course, how the costumes look and how the stage is designed.
The day before the theatrical premiere is filled with emotions. We must not forget anything. So, is the music in place? Have you taken all the details of the costumes with you? Scenery? Chairs for guests? We begin! A curtain…
That's all. Or, no, not all! Do you want to be in a happy childhood with Smile? Then, until we meet again in the next anniversary year! Theater Studio and Dance Ensemble "Smile" gathers friends again! Call the team leader Victoria Provkina and come! Already in September!
