“Universe” in Motion: A Winter Dance Story
Want to catch that special New Year feeling as winter begins? Let the “Universe” Dance Theater do the magic. Their show at the Omsk City Center of Creativity is the perfect way to step into the holiday mood.
Recognition came in 2023 when the “Pride of the Country” National Choreography Award placed “Universe” among Russia’s top 100 dance ensembles. The year’s highlights included a gala performance at the majestic State Kremlin Palace in November, followed by a heartfelt homecoming show in December at their own creative hub.
Fairy‑Tale Prologue
The spirited prologue of the New Year’s program is titled “Russian Souvenir”
The young dancers master all types of choreography — from folk to contemporary
Their recent triumphant performance in Moscow gives them extra confidence at home
Mixed‑age casts within a single number are the ensemble’s signature creative style
Leading the way is Ksenia Chernyaeva — the theater’s teacher and ballet master
Radiant smiles and precise movements captivate the audience from the very first minutes
Mimes and Russian Dance
Artistic director Anna Chernyaeva narrates a fairy tale that ties all the concert numbers together
Almost every piece is a mini‑play with its own plot development
Bright props are always used at the right moment — and always in an unconventional way
Something interesting happens both in the foreground and deep on stage
This number is called “Accidental Rain”
Just a little attention is all it takes to change everything in the lives of these vulnerable mimes
And now they’ve regained their spirit and become part of a big, friendly family
The story of the wandering performers ends on a cheerful note
Russian dance continues the program
This is a solo performance by Ksenia Chernyaeva with full immersion in the character
You could study the costume’s decorative details endlessly
It’s moments like these that let you truly feel the richness of Russian culture
“Dolls”, “Winter Walk”, and “Chickadee”
After well‑deserved applause for the soloist, the youngest dancers take the stage
The folk song “My Mother Had Twelve Daughters” forms the basis of the next number
According to the plot, the youngest sister is taught to dance so she can entertain her older sisters while they work
The “Dolls” production resonates with both adults and children
All the dancers’ gestures seem robotic and deliberately angular
In motion, this looks very unusual
While the battery is new, the doll can move as fast as she likes
In the game, dolls can even form complex acrobatic shapes
But once the energy runs out, the fun comes to an end
“Winter Walk” takes the audience into the frosty starlight for the next number
It’s so wonderful to stroll down a snowy street in good company!
Gravity seems to have no power over this journey
The younger girls help the senior cast develop the theme
Serious preparation is evident in every movement
The young “snow queens” have a great sense of the stage and the audience
A sharp contrast to the soothing “Winter Walk” is the “Chickadee” dance
It’s filled with deep, natural energy
The action unfolds rapidly and leaves plenty of room for interpretation
It would be impossible to convey all the meanings without high‑level professional training
The audience will need a moment to fully process what they’ve seen
Meanwhile, new characters appear in the concert’s main fairy tale
“Gatherings”, Stage Pop, and a Lullaby
But still, the heart of this vibrant New Year’s program is the choreography!
Meet the homely and cozy “Gatherings”
The title is telling — and it’s cleverly played with throughout the piece
Though, there’s no chance to just sit back: the audience came for a dance show, after all :)
So they’ll see exactly what the posters promised
It’s incredible how many roles ordinary little stools can play
It’s almost a pity that this cheerful number has come to an end
A vocal interlude: the artistic director, Anna Chernyaeva, sings a festive song
And in the most emotional parts, everyone in the hall gladly joins in
Let’s add some aesthetics and expressiveness of 1980s Western stage pop
“The Best” — that’s the bold, no‑compromise title of the next production
The costumes are deliberately minimal to highlight the elegance of the fast movements
The performance is dazzling — both literally and figuratively
By the finale, the dance pattern grows more complex and dynamic
The set of stage special effects is modest, which makes their use all the more valuable
“Lulling to Sleep” will help slightly slow down the show’s pace
As a genre, lullabies are a real challenge for a director
The challenge was met with honor — and helped light up new rising stars in the troupe
“Pine Trees”, “Pearls”, and “Silence”
Now comes the most quintessentially New Year’s number of the program
“Forest Beauties” are dazzling and perfectly graceful, each one a standout
All the pine tree attributes are there — it’s almost as if only the scent of pine needles is missing
Once again, choreography briefly joins forces with acrobatics
The festive mood of the teacher and her students instantly spreads through the hall
The youngest dancers perform the narrative dance “Pearls”
The piece “When Silence Comes to Life” is a true pantomime
A mysterious story unfolds without a single word
There’s no such thing as absolute silence: you can listen to it and look into it
Only a small portion of the performance is dedicated to dance per se
The rest of the time, the dancers’ acting skills are in the spotlight
And only when they finally hide behind the rug can they truly relax
“Dragon” and “Seasons”
Another solo — the “Young Dragon” number
As the symbol of the coming year in the Eastern calendar, it fits the occasion perfectly
Spotlights draw all attention to the graceful performer
Next, the girls seem to be getting ready for a vacation!
“Packing Suitcases” — that’s the title of this choreographic sketch
Any tourist destination would be lucky to have such guests
The “Seasons” number leads into the finale and showcases the beauty of all Siberian seasons
Here we see tender, blossoming, and long‑awaited Spring
And here comes hot, colorful, and sunny Summer
You can’t help but recognize golden, warm, and welcoming Autumn
And of course, we all cherish frosty, yet sporty and festive Winter
In their unity lies our joy, our uniqueness, and our strength
New Year’s Finale
Father Frost has arrived to wish the audience a happy New Year
The piece “In Russia, It’s New Year” is dynamic and truly built as a grand finale
Dancers from all the theatre’s groups take the stage
There are surprises in store, too!
Every child in the audience should get a balloon
And even with the curtain closed, it’s not time to say goodbye to the beloved audience
In the foyer, flowers are handed out and words of gratitude are exchanged
Parents are proud of their children and take keepsake photos
Let’s wish “Universe” to always perform with the same energy — just as they did this day, and as recently at the Kremlin!
