The first open historical dance lesson of this academic year was held for students in the lobby of South Ural State University on October 22nd.
Deputy Director for Extracurricular and Discipline Activities of the Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and a teacher of historical dance Dmitriy Khan gave a welcome speech:
“Today marks the beginning of preparations for the student interregional ball, organized by the Ministry of Education for all universities in our country. The event aims to promote history and culture among young people. We will explore ancient dances and how to perform them. Special attention will be paid to the rules of interaction between a gentleman and a lady, and the correct positioning of the couple. Practical classes are scheduled every week until mid-November. I am convinced that immersion in historical dances promotes patriotic consciousness and helps young people switch from modern technologies to studying the cultural heritage of our ancestors.”
The ball is a holistic process, which encompasses proper behaviour, manners, correct posture, and a deep understanding of the historical context of the era, including the knowledge of the costume and traditions of the country to which the dance belongs. The goal of the event is not so much to study history as to educate young people by instilling traditional values of the Russian state. During theoretical classes, participants will learn the rules of etiquette, the history of costume, and the evolution of the 19th-century dress image.
“We seem to cope with it quite well, I really enjoyed the event. This is a completely new experience for me, and if I master it successfully, I plan to dance at the regional ball,” said SUSU student Mikhail Timoshevskiy.
The open student ball, which will take place on November 19th, is open to everyone, regardless of whether they attended preliminary classes or not. The only requirements are a desire to dance and strict adherence to the established dress code.