Learn to Speak Russian
(adults and children)
Russian language courses serve to introduce participants to the idiomatic expression of Russian people and to aid the preservation of the language. The Russian language courses are designed to introduce students to both the Russian language and the broad spectrum of Russian culture.
To keep the Russian children classes interesting and challenging, the materials are modified according to the child's age and level of proficiency in Russian.
For our classes the needs and interests of students are considered as the main focus, rather than the 'abstracted study of language' itself.
Music: Learn to Sing Russian Songs (children)
The music class is based exclusively on Russian folklore tunes and songs, as well as the best of Soviet era and Russian classics.
Group music activities with a focus on singing songs are a source of great satisfaction for young children who have the natural ability to learn easily and effortlessly the essentials of rhythm and melody, dynamics and tempo etc. through singing, clapping, ear training and other joyful activities. The delight of music is strengthened while children develop basic music skills.
Learn Russian Cuisine
(adults)
The Russian Baking class is designed to provide basic skills to bake Russian and European baked desserts: stuffed breads, pancakes, cakes, pies and cookies.
Outreach/school programs are discussion-based, interactive and led by experienced educators. Programs relate to the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies and Art.
Russian Folk Art Revealed
The outreach programs bring our educator into schools and public libraries to address different aspects of traditional Russian folk art.
Folk arts objects and hands-on activities are used to introduce students to the history of Russian folk arts. For inquires please email lichten@newrussiacenter.org.
I. Russian Decorative Arts.
Lecture and Demonstration. Examples of Russian folk arts, including decorated boxes, nesting dolls, painted boxes and trays (portraits, landscapes and genre scenes), textiles (costumes, quilts and needlework), ceramics and other crafts.and other crafts.
II. Sight and Sound of Traditional Russian Music.
Lecture and Demonstration. This hands-on workshop is a rare opportunity to learn and explore traditional Russian music. Russia has a long tradition of folk music. The educator introduces the history of Russian Strings (Balalaika, Gusli), and Russian Winds (Svirel, Rozhok, Zhaleika Dudochka).
III. Russian Folklore:
Examples and Illustrations. A presentation on select customs of 19th century Russian peasantry. The story of a typical peasant family. Russian fairytales.
Folk Arts Workshop: An introduction to Traditional
Russian Folk Art Painting.
The program offers opportunities to learn the step-by-step techniques of Russian Miniature Art painting; such as Paint Your Own Nesting Doll on the blank sanded forms of the dolls. This folk art workshop includes an introductory demonstration and a hands-on session. The instructor demonstrates basic skills of painting and teaches the “double brush” technique of traditional Russian painting.
The Center conducts the exhibitions of Russian folk arts private and public collections in the United States and from Russia.
The Center’s exhibition program is implemented through special on-site exhibitions and traveling shows. Until the Center will be housed in its own facility, the exhibition program will implemented only through traveling shows. The Center partners with a number of community organizations to extend its exhibits initiatives to regional audiences.
In February 2009 an exhibition “Traditional Russian Costumes 18th – early 20th centuries” had been presented at the Albany Institute of the History and Art. The exposition included 15 genuine Russian costumes from a private collection from Moscow, Russia.
Our events cover the spectrum of Russian folk arts such as folk music, dancing and other areas of folk art. We provide spaces for the community and families to gather and enjoy cultural events such as an annual “Winter Festival” to celebrate Russian folk holiday “Mastlenitsa."
The following is just a short list of the activities that the
Center has been sponsoring:
The New Russia Cultural Center partnerships with local community organizations such as the Russian Orthodox Community Center, Saratoga-Chekhov Sister City, Albany-Tula Alliance, and Adoptive Families of the Capital District.
A testimony to the history of Russians in the Unites
States.
Our humanities programming includes events showcasing the history and
culture of the Russian immigrants in the United States. The New Russia
Cultural Center focuses on the broader and extended cultural view of the
Russian-American culture and history in the United States. Like all immigrants
to this country, the immigrants from Russia have brought many unique and
outstanding gifts. Many stories of their important contributions over
the centuries have yet to be told and deserve a wider audience. This research
program of the Center is to bring these long-forgotten and neglected stories
to light.
The Center intends to support and publish academic research on Russian folk art and Russian-American art, history and culture.
Symposium: Cultural Identity and Folk Traditions
- Russian Cultural Heritage in the US.
This program will bring together scholars to examine the interplay between
Russian cultural identity and folk traditions. The scholars will discuss
the ways in which Russian communities and immigrants use stories, music,
art and other folk traditions to establish relationships with other groups
and maintain their own deeply rooted community identities.