2008 Woodie Awards
Local Russian club provides cultural events for community
Chase Smith
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Life & Style
A group of seven people, who make up the Northwest Arkansas Russian Club, is offering many events to community members to inform them of Russian culture. The club was created two years ago, in hopes of bringing together Russian women and families to preserve certain aspects of Russian culture in NWA, said member Irina Pelphrey.
One of the events was the celebration of International Women's Day on March 8 at the Elite Studios in Springdale, which was a collaboration between the NWARC with the Chicago Russian Club. The purpose of the celebration was to reach out to former Soviets to celebrate their culture, Pelphrey said.
International Women's Day was first invented and observed by U.S. socialists and has taken roots in the Soviet Union and most of Europe. The holiday was intended to celebrate the working-women of the United Soviet States of Russia. It began as a political holiday, but is now a tribute to motherhood, womanhood and beauty. The holiday is a combination of Valentine's and Mother's Day, according to the club's press release. Despite the fall of the USSR, the holiday continues to be celebrated in nations throughout the world, according to the International Women's Day's official Web site.
"International Women's Day started out politically, but today it is more [as] a religious and traditional day of celebrating the women in our lives," Pelphrey said.
The fete in Springdale included authentic Russian food, musical folk performances, a language game based on a children's folk table titled "Teremok," and a variety of folk dances, according to the press release.
Member Elena Ames was able to get in contact with a dance group that had worked with CRC. The group, MAZURDANCE, also made an appearance at the celebration in Springdale, showcasing a variety of folk dances, including Russian, Ukrainian and Gypsy, according to the press release.
"We were very excited by the turn out and we hope to gain more of the public view in future events," Ames said.
Pelphrey and Ames are planning more events for the rest of 2008 and for the beginning of 2009. Their goal is to plan events for every month, such as the Russian Labor Day in May, Pelphrey said.
More information about the Northwest Arkansas Russian Club is on their Web site, www.rusclubnwa.org.ru.
One of the events was the celebration of International Women's Day on March 8 at the Elite Studios in Springdale, which was a collaboration between the NWARC with the Chicago Russian Club. The purpose of the celebration was to reach out to former Soviets to celebrate their culture, Pelphrey said.
International Women's Day was first invented and observed by U.S. socialists and has taken roots in the Soviet Union and most of Europe. The holiday was intended to celebrate the working-women of the United Soviet States of Russia. It began as a political holiday, but is now a tribute to motherhood, womanhood and beauty. The holiday is a combination of Valentine's and Mother's Day, according to the club's press release. Despite the fall of the USSR, the holiday continues to be celebrated in nations throughout the world, according to the International Women's Day's official Web site.
"International Women's Day started out politically, but today it is more [as] a religious and traditional day of celebrating the women in our lives," Pelphrey said.
The fete in Springdale included authentic Russian food, musical folk performances, a language game based on a children's folk table titled "Teremok," and a variety of folk dances, according to the press release.
Member Elena Ames was able to get in contact with a dance group that had worked with CRC. The group, MAZURDANCE, also made an appearance at the celebration in Springdale, showcasing a variety of folk dances, including Russian, Ukrainian and Gypsy, according to the press release.
"We were very excited by the turn out and we hope to gain more of the public view in future events," Ames said.
Pelphrey and Ames are planning more events for the rest of 2008 and for the beginning of 2009. Their goal is to plan events for every month, such as the Russian Labor Day in May, Pelphrey said.
More information about the Northwest Arkansas Russian Club is on their Web site, www.rusclubnwa.org.ru.
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