Welcome to the Kuban Scottish Dancers!

Your Editor first met Ilona Gumenyuk dancing at St. Andrews in 1999, and then in Budapest in 2001, learning of her enthusiasm to establish Scottish Country Dancing in her home town of Krasnodar on the Kuban Steppe of Russia, near the Black Sea. I was pleased to visit her group in March but, first, here is Ilona’s story...

This story is like a fairy tale about an ordinary Russian girl who has found herself in a land of her dreams gaining happiness and friends all over the world.

About five years ago a Russian lectrice, teaching at Bristol University, went to her first Scottish Country Dance class. Who would have thought, at that time, that not only would she stay in the class and participate in various events, but would also fall in love with Scottish Country Dancing and Scottish culture so much that her passion would acquire such an international scale? Nobody could have imagined that Krasnodar would not only get to know about the existence of such a hobby, and such a world renowned organisation as the RSCDS, but would become a centre of Scottish Country Dancing in Russia? How did it start?

Since my childhood I have been very interested in dancing. At the age of five my mother took me to my first ballet class and I have been dancing ever since. I took up ballroom dancing at the age of ten and danced it competitively until I was 18. I am really grateful to my mother, together with my grandfather and my grandmother. My mother not only started me off as a dancer, but also supported me along the way, making my dancing costumes and taking me to various dance competitions and demonstrations all over Russia. As she says, it has always been her own dream to dance – the dream which came true in her daughter. She is now dancing in my group in Krasnodar and takes an active part in all the activities and supports all my new ideas and projects.

As a ballroom dancer, I was so much involved in the dancing world that I even thought of choosing this as my career. I always wanted to dance at a real ball, and to teach others. But when I finished school, my other passion – for languages – outweighed and dancing remained my hobby. As a student at school, and then later at the University, I studied in the USA where I carried on with my hobby. These first trips outside Russia developed my interest in travelling, getting to know other cultures and people and broadened my international outlook.

I got a degree in English and German and stayed at the Kuban State University in Krasnodar to teach at the Department of Linguistics. It was then that I was invited to come to Bristol as a lectrice at the Russian Department of the University for the 1997-1998 academic years.

My teaching and dancing in Bristol was the starting point of my Scottish Country Dance saga, which, I hope, will never end. RSCDS Bristol Branch accepted me as a member of their family and I am grateful to all its members who took care of me and helped me all these years. Special thanks to Fiona Grant who not only supported me but also accepted me as a part of her own family, and is now my dancing “guardian angel”. I also want to thank all my dancing friends all over the world who believed in me and are always there to help.

When in Bristol, I took part in various dancing events – day schools, social dancing, weekend schools. I remember my first social dancing very well, when I was in sheer terror of making a mess of all the dances because I didn’t know any of them. But by the end of the evening I found myself dancing with a big smile on my face feeling extremely happy to be surrounded by friendly dancers who helped me through.

The peak of my dancing at that time was participation in the RSCDS Summer School in St. Andrews in 1999 and 2000. It was a gift of fortune, of the RSCDS and the Bristol Branch, to me! I started in the beginners’ class and then moved to the advanced level of dancing and was privileged to dance in the demonstration team. It was there that I felt the overwhelming warmth of the RSCDS international family and its individual members, which is so important especially when one is far away from home. I am proud to say that now I have my second home – this is where Scottish dancing is. I fell in love with Scotland and can understand now why Robert Burns once wrote “My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go” – my heart is with Scottish Country Dancing, wherever I go!

Last November I was lucky to be present at the 72nd AGM of the RSCDS in Perth, which was the first AGM in my life. It was exciting to be at the event which is so important in the life of the Society and which is so well discussed among its members. Being there helped me to understand how the Society works, and opened up my mind to what prospects it has. It showed how keen lots of members are on its present and future development. Since then I have a strong feeling that I would love to be among these members and would like to do something for the Society to make it prosper.

Day after day and year after year I felt more confident in my dancing and I realised how important it is to have a proper training and an opportunity to practice. When I came back to Krasnodar in 1998 I missed Scottish Country Dancing. I was teaching at the University and my students heard a lot from me about how great it is and how much I enjoyed it. They were very keen to try Scottish Country Dancing themselves and the first group was set up from the students who used to listen to my lectures. The Kuban Scottish Dancers were very successful and became an affiliated group of the Society, supported by the Bristol Branch. We have performed several demonstrations and made TV appearances.

However, my former head of the department did not want other people to join the group. I could not and did not want to break the welcoming principle of the Society – Scottish Country Dancing should be accessible to everybody!

I had to leave the University, but I didn't give up the idea of Scottish Country Dancing in the South of Russia. Our countries have so much in common – the similar landscape, mountains, hospitality of people and their joy and vivacity. I wanted to create little Scotland here, in the Caucasus. So, in December 2001, after my next visit to the UK, the Kuban Scottish Dancers became active again and have now received a great deal of public recognition. I know that Scottish Country Dancing easily attracts people.

But I was still amazed to witness how quickly more and more people came to the classes without any special advertisement on my part. First my friends came (we started with 4 or 5 people in the group), then their friends, relatives and neighbours. There are now about 40 people dancing in the group and more people come every week. [I have heard Ilona complain about the constant stream of new young male adults that keep on coming. I am sure all those members of groups with a high age profile will sympathise with her plight! Ed.]

Very soon we had to find a new, larger hall to dance in and we moved to the Centre of Culture where I used to dance as a small girl. The place itself is gorgeous – a modern well-ventilated building with several dance halls. And the hall we dance in is the largest in the building and one of the best in the South of Russia. You will be able to see it with your own eyes and even dance here when you come to visit us! The Administration of the Centre of Culture supports us and helps us to organise our various events.

In March we held our first Ceilidh. About 80 people took part in it, including guests. We were glad to have Jim Cook, member of the RSCDS London Branch, and the Editor of “The Reel”, among them. He was the first person brave enough to come all the way to the South of Russia and dance with our group. It was an unforgettable weekend for all our dancers! We would be happy to see everybody who is interested to come and dance with us.

Within the last couple of months our group “Kuban Scottish Dancers” has become very popular and has aroused the interest of the mass media. We have had four appearances on TV, including a 30 minute live programme, and a piece shown on the national news. There is a constant interest about our group on the local Internet site and articles about us are published in local newspapers. As one of our dancers once said, soon , even when you switch on the iron, you’ll see us dancing!

People who dance in our group are very interesting and very different. They like jokes and often laugh at themselves. Kilts were at first the cause of shyness and awkwardness for many of the male dancers, but gradually turned into objects of distinction – there are more male dancers than kilts (we have only two proper kilts and at least ten men!). They have to have their wits about them in order to be the first to obtain the cherished treasure for the demonstrations! This so called competition turns into a show which attracts the newcomers and TV commentators who are eager to try the kilt even if it is only for a couple of seconds while they are making a report on us.

We have a life full of interesting events here. We have also set up the Club of Celtic Culture which allows our dancers to meet and talk and find out more about the history of dancing and the history and culture of Scotland . We also plan to have a Ball of the Clans in Krasnodar and a weekend school in the Caucasus in May, a summer school at the Black Sea coast in June and are happy to see Fiona Grant from Bristol visiting us in August.

As you see, with such a rapid growth, our group is in great need of dancing equipment especially dance shoes, which are impossible to find in Russia, and any sort of financial, informational (books on dancing, Scottish culture, food, music, etc.) and any other support. We would be happy to accept any contributions made to us for our future development. [If you have anything to contribute, contact me, Jim Cook, tel: +44 (0)20 8948 5637, as I can probably arrange collection from you anywhere in the UK and possibly in parts of Europe, and dispatch to Russia. Ed.]

We enjoy our life as a lively dance club and invite everybody to join us. Contact me at ilona_gumenyuk@mail.ru or at my address in the next column...

...and, from my reception, you will be made very welcome! There are quicker ways of getting from London to Krasnodar than taking eight days by train – it can be done in four! But sane people can head directly for Krasnodar or Anapa airports.

Ilona’s enthusiasm and drive are self-evident and this was brought home to me whilst attending the group's first Ceilidh on Saturday 9th March. A splendid array of musicians, dancers and singers were amassed for our entertainment, interspersed by country dances for all to join in. Perhaps I shall gloss over the game we played where the man gets to hold the girl and almost, but not quite, gets to kiss her. I was pleased to be invited to conduct the assembly of about 80 people through two simple country dances “Welcome” and “The Borrowdale Exchange” with instant translation into Russian by Ilona. Ilona had successfully tempted the national TV news cameras to attend and it was daunting to be interviewed, the worst part being to remember to pause so that Ilona could catch up with the translations.

Classes are held on Sunday afternoons. I firstly joined in Ilona’s Children's Class where a well behaved, and keen set of children, were put through their paces. The set included one boy, Dima, amongst the girls. (Hello Dima! I shall make sure you receive a copy of this.) Dima's parents, Irina and Andrey, were in the sidelines waiting for the following adults class. Step practice was followed by yours truly teaching the children “A Reel For Jeannie” from Book 40. As ever, Ilona was at hand to help translate but the nature of the dance with its casting and arches allows easy coaching by hand movements. When asked if they would like to do the dance again, thankfully the children said “Da”.

The following Adults Class attracted three sets of mainly young adults with a good proportion of men. One wonders if the future of Scottish Country Dancing lies in Russia? Ilona’s step practice concentrated on reel/jig time steps, with emphasis on pas de basque. Consolidation of rights and lefts was high on the agenda. After Ilona taught “Wild Geese”, I was invited to teach “Machine Without Horses” again with its scope for coaching by hand movements. The TV cameras were still with us.

The following day, Monday, would we appear on the TV news after all? As in the UK, the serious news is followed by a couple of lighter items and after an item about pancakes, it was “us” beamed from Moscow to Vladivostok. The whole of Russia now knows about the Scottish Dancing in Krasnodar. And now you have a chance to sample it. Ilona continues ...

Your chance to join in ... DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES SUMMER 2003

Fiona and I are organizing an International Scottish Country Dance Holiday in the South of Russia (Krasnodar and the Black Sea coast) in late August/early September 2003, probably encompassing two weekends and the intervening week. The Black Sea Coast and foothills of the Caucasus can be thought of as the Riviera of Russia. It is a favourite holiday destination for Russians. Our plan is to combine a holiday with dancing, holding Scottish Country Dance classes, informal dances, a ball, with perhaps a chance to try traditional Russian dance and a little ballroom dancing. Then there will be picnicking in the mountains, the vineyards and tea plantations to visit, swimming in the Black Sea and visits to other local attractions. The local Cossack dancers have been approached to demonstrate. The Kuban Scottish Dancers look forward to welcoming everyone and invite dancers from any part of the world to join us. Additional information about this project will be available very soon. You can contact us now at office@dancetour.co.uk to let us know if you are interested. More conventionally, Ilona Gumenyuk lives at 131 Kostylev Street, Krasnodar, 350002 Russia. Fiona Grant is at 7 Maurice Road, St. Andrews Park, Bristol BS6 5BZ, UK. We shall be pleased to send you more details.

Having the last word in my last issue of “The Reel” as Editor, I hope I shall see you all in Russia in Summer 2003. Seeing the planning that is going on over a year and a half in advance, and with Ilona and Fiona at the helm, this holiday will clearly be well organised and worth attending. I know at first hand that the idea is catching on by word of mouth, and email, across Europe. Should you be tempted, book early when the time comes so as to avoid disappointment. Come dancing in the land of the Cossacks! I thank Ilona and the Kuban Scottish Dancers for all their hospitality.