(From Left)David Breyton and the Sadko Russian Balalaika Orchestra share the stage with a large Russian doll.
By Shaun Inguanzo
VICTORIA’S Russian community converged upon Dandenong last weekend for the third annual Russian Cultural Festival organised by the Russian Welfare Society.
Festival director Janene Blanchfield Brown declared the event a success and said it was a wonderful celebration of tradition, culture, food, craft and education and all other things Russian.
“The Russian Cultural Festival gets bigger and better every year with the quality of displays, entertainment and cuisine improving every time,” she said.
“We have been careful to ensure that the festival content retained a focus on traditions of a Slavic or Russian origin.
“This has prompted an exciting renewal of traditions and pride in cultural heritage.
“This year our community theme is ‘Helping Others’ and projects such as the Comfort Kits, for women who have breast cancer, wheelchairs for children in Russia and support for our orphanage in Russia for young boys were promoted and supported.”
Highlights of the three-day festival included children from the Russian Parish School performing various songs, the Sadko Balalaika Orchestra, the Russian Women’s Folk Choir of Dandenong, and the Young Cossacks, Ms Blanchfield Brown said.
She said a dance presentation of A Women’s Round Dance and Maypole Dance, led by Alex Ilyin, was also a highlight, and of course, so was the food.
