Dance4Life event Russia, edition 2006

In addition to a full dance programme, they could support the World AIDS Campaign action: Fulfil the promise, and leave a statement on camera on what they think of Dance4Life. Also, they could talk with representatives of the support centre for people living with HIV. Yuri from the support centre was impressed by the whole concept: “I think Dance4Life could mean a lot for Russia, especially Russian youth because it is important to break taboos and to give a face to young people living positively with HIV”.

“When I say: Dance4, you say…”, …”Life” shouted the crowd. Presenters Yulia and Denis showed the international mood clip with Russian comments, so the kids could understand the information given in English.

Then it was time to dance. Russian youth went wild on the popular Mikhail Grebenschikov, a popular singer, who right before the event gave a interview to MTV Russia dressed in a Dance4Life T-shirt. He commented that being aware of HIV is very important because of drug abuse and alcoholism in Russia. The crowd danced to his music for over 40 minutes. After this the 24 volunteers stepped to the stage again and danced together with the audience to the track of DJ Tiesto. The 24 volunteers had come from all over Russia, to share their experience from the Schools Projects with the Moscow crowd. The experience of the event they will take back home with them to continue the Schools Project and to be facilitators during their Dance4Life events in the coming weeks.

Katya, a volunteer from Moscow: “When I learned about Dance4Life it made me realise that it would make me stronger and more responsible, and I loved going to schools and involving young people”.

After DJ Tiesto’s track it was suddenly time to start dancing the drill together with the other 7 countries. It was amazing to see the thousands of Dutch youth, then Egypt, and then UK, Nigeria... The youth was screaming and looking amazed at all the images coming in from all over the world. The stage was filled with dancers as they kept on dancing the drill tirelessly over and over again while the world came by on the screen.

Ilona, 16 years old, commented afterwards that she never realised that so many people of her own age would be involved. And her friend said: “I never joined a program as exciting as Dance4Life, it is so meaningful because it is important for Russian youth to learn more about HIV and abuse of drugs and alcohol”.

Then it was time to dance to Lera Masskva. A cool girl came to stage with her band and the crowd went wild. Lera Masskva, a 17 year-old singer from the small town of Novy Urengoi, represents a generation of new, romantic, alive and sentient Russian music. She began writing poetry at age 12 and came to Moscow with her mother to start a singing career in 2002. She has had hit radio singles “Sedmoi etazh” (Seventh Floor) and “SMS-naya lyubov” (SMS-type Love).

Unfortunately many young people had already left when the exciting Dance4Life Russia event came to an end with the voice of the Vika Kova, a Dutch-Russian vocalist, who came over from the Netherlands specially for this event. With her beautiful voice, she moved the students who were still there. “I was impressed by the dedication of the team and I am really looking forward to participate in the Russian 2008 event!”

But before that, there will be several more events taking place in the coming week in around Russia:

Saint-Petersburg, 29 November
Nizhniy Novgorod , 13 December
Ulan-Ude, 1 December
Volgograd, 29 November
Volzhskiy, 30 November