Happiness Has No Borders
The new play “Happiness Is Near” by “Dancing Beyond Borders” unfolds as a series of choreographic novellas — each a personal answer to the ultimate question of existence. The premiere took place on October 21 at the A.M. Maluntsev Cultural Center, made possible with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund.
Children’s Dreams
The first novella is about children’s dreams
To dream of the sky — what could be more romantic?
These are the kind of dreams you want to share with the whole world
What a blessing it is to have someone by your side who can share your dream
With such a person, you want to spend all your time
And, of course, together you can move mountains
But what if there are many such people?
Strengthened by hundreds of hearts, the dream becomes closer
Dream, and share your dreams — then they will surely come true
Love
The next story is, perhaps, about love
Of course! Love always brings a sense of happiness
Once you find your other half, life takes on a new meaning
Happiness is equality and mutual respect
Happiness is what gives us wings
Happiness is having the most reliable person right beside you
The more happy couples there are, the happier entire cities and countries become
Love is the best way to conquer loneliness
It’s a joy to tell this beautiful story from the stage again and again
Joy of Dancing
Another novella tells the story of… the joy of dancing!
In the 21st century, dancing is accessible to absolutely everyone
The performers prove this with every gesture and every glance
And they do it brilliantly!
Or perhaps happiness is standing in the spotlight, basking in fame?
But is it easy to chase that kind of happiness — and would anyone even want to?
Traditions
The next choreographic piece is about love for the homeland
It’s also a kind of happiness — to know and understand the culture of your people
With traditions as your anchor, it’s easier to look to the future
The Cossack dance embodies youthful daring…
…and matters of the heart!
With so many layers of meaning, the number’s finale simply has to be spectacular
Drama
A play about happiness wouldn’t be complete without a dramatic storyline
We often fail to appreciate what we have, not realizing that happiness is already right there
Sometimes it’s easier to invent an ideal than to see the true worth of the person standing beside you
And it’s simpler to turn away than to meet each other halfway
What starts as a tentative dialogue quickly spirals into even greater misunderstanding
Time doesn’t heal the wound — it only lets the negative emotions grow stronger
They so desperately wanted to be together
But happiness isn’t something you find ready‑made; it’s something you build
And that building is hard, shared work
Sadly, things didn’t go the way our heroes hoped
They lacked the wisdom to hear, understand, and accept each other
Was their happiness within reach? Yes — but, unfortunately, that moment is now in the past
Improvisation
Still, a rich, intense program deserves to end on a cheerful note
Having told all these stories, the project team is free to improvise
“Dancing Beyond Borders” thanks the audience for their warm reception
Flowers for the artists are a cherished tradition and an essential part of every performance by this unique collective
Happiness is to be, happiness is to live, happiness is to dance!
May happiness find its way into every home. Remember: it’s right there, within reach!
