Qatar-Russia Year of Culture gets underway

The Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Culture got under way yesterday at Katara - the Cultural Village in the presence of HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, Qatar’s ambassador to Russia Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Russian ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov and other VIP guests. The award-winning Igor Moiseyev Ballet marked the beginning of the celebrations that will last for the whole year. The performance, directed by Elena Shcherbakova, renowned artistic and executive director of Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Popular Dance, is part of Qatar Museums’ (QM) Years of Culture initiative. The initiative was launched in 2012 under the guidance of QM’s chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and aims to build bridges between nations and establish Qatar as a cultural destination. HE al-Ali said Qatar has maintained a strong bond with Russia for a long time. “The cultural year reflects the richness of creativity in both countries, the desire of intellectuals and artists to extend communication bridges and the activation of common human values expressed perfectly through creativity. Today, we need to renew our visions and relationships to strengthen the values of tolerance and human rights. “The Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Culture showcases the rich creativity found in the two countries and the desire of our people to build bridges of communication that can reinforce our shared human values of tolerance and peace. This year will give the people of Qatar the chance to discover Russian culture, while at the same time introducing Russians to the diversity of Qatari culture, one that is known for its appreciation of intercultural interactions.” Medinsky said: “This celebration will result in an increase in the number of Russian tourists to Qatar. Earlier, Doha was the transit point for many Russians but hereafter this beautiful country will be the final destination for Russian tourists. We are looking forward to this year’s cultural exchange programme, creating an atmosphere of understanding and trust between our nations that helping strengthen opportunities for tourism and economic exchange.” The Igor Moiseyev Ballet started with a performance featuring a group of 50 artistes, captivating audiences with their mesmerising show. It is often described as the greatest folk dance group in the world, entertaining audiences for over 80 years. The group’s iconic choreography is marked by its harmonious fusion of technical brilliance and folk dance spontaneity. The dances reflect the diverse cultures of the world, painting choreographic scenes, miniatures and one-act ballets against music of great Russian composers including Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov and Mikhail Glinka, among others. Russia will present more than 100 exciting cultural programmes and exhibitions in Qatar to mark the Qatar-Russia Year of Culture. Source: Gulftimes