The talking of Russian. Sounds of different musical instruments, voices singing from opera, traditional songs to pop. Sounds of actors and actresses, practicing their dialogs. The tap sounds of tap shoes, clicking of character shoes, point shoes making their own sounds on the ballet mats and sounds of movies being projected in the auditorium.
These are some of the sounds I hear almost everyday as I pass through the hallways of my University and some even at home, in the hallways of the hostel.
In today’s post I am going to introduce you to my University.
The Kazan State University of Culture and Arts. Located in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. The founder of Kazan State University is the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
It was established in 1969 as a branch of the Leningrad Institute of Culture. In 1974 the status of the institute was changed and it became an independent Kazan Institute of Culture.
There is more than 300 teachers, including 107 senior lectures and 148 Doctors of science. About 70 professors and lecturers of the University have honoree titles of Tatarstan Republic and the Russian Federation, among them there are winners of the state awards of the Russian Federation and Tatarstan Republic.
Kazan Sate University of Culture and Arts has about 3000 students who study in full-time and correspondence faculties, has 9 faculties and 30 departments. It fulfills 25 licensed programs of bachelors, 3 programs of masters and 5 programs of experts.
For the 2017/18 year (Nov-Jun), I will be studying in the Preparatory faculty where I am learning the Russian Language. From the 2018/19 year I will be studying in the Choreography faculty for 4 years and will be completing my Bachelors in 2022. After that, only time will tell how I will be completing my Masters. As a full time student or part time, at the same University or another. That is to be decided later.
In the mean time I am privileged to be able to dance with students from the Choreography faculty already in my Preparatory year. Although I don’t do all the classes and exams of the Choreography faculty, I am taking part in some classes and concerts. Even rehearsals for Nutcracker has started and I’m rehearsing with. I’m getting a pre-taste of what it’s going to be like once I actually start my studies. Getting my foot in the door as early as possible 😀
I had the privilege to take part in one of their concerts, dancing La Bayadere – Nikiya Variation. After only 2 weeks and 5 days of dancing and training in the Choreography faculty, ballet classes.
It is such a spirit uplifting and soul roaring feeling/experience being in a place like this. An University full of performing artists of all kinds! Sometimes when I am there really early, the hallways still empty, there will be someone already practicing their craft.
Here is a guy practicing on his accordion.
Here is a group practicing their song and performance.
Someone practicing piano in a classroom. Even with closed doors, you can not, not hear it. So beautiful! (Perks of being on campus before the buzz starts.)
And once the halls start to fill up, the once empty University with a few sounds are alive with the energy of all it’s students, professors and their craft! Walking through the halls you see some people that you do class with (dance and language), people you met waiting in line at the showers in the hostel and people that you’ve passed in the hallways many times before, that you start greeting each other now.
There is almost a concert/competition of one of the genres/faculties going on in the theater every other week. On Friday (24 Nov ’17) there was a singing concert. Early morning they started with little ones from schools and as the day went on, older kids and teenagers came. Later there would have also been some students participating.
Little girl singing:
Teenage girl singing:
The University is always alive and has something going on. It’s a true artistic environment and place to be in!
The days are flying by because you are so busy doing the one thing to the next. Even through it all I do miss home and my family a lot! Some days more than others. It will get better, I know. I’m still in my first “phase” here. Even with the homesickness that’s kicking in, I can honestly say that besides that…
My soul is happy, my heart is beating with joy. I am living my dream. I’m on my journey and I am happy!!!
Hope you enjoyed this weeks post! Go read my previous posts if you’ve missed any! Subscribe so you won’t in the future. If you do subscribe and have already…Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it! Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family!
Talk to you guys later!
To Live is To Dance!!!
xoxo
