St.Petersburg-Savonlinna Ballet Days (SE450)
Funded by South-East Finland - Russia ENPI 2007-2013

Objective of the project

To empower mutual understanding and breaking down mental barriers in the programme area through the universal language of dance and ballet and to strengthen the attractiveness of the Finnish regions of the programme area for cultural tourists.

Main activities

- Series of master-classes by Russian and Finnish ballet professors and ballet stars for mixed Russian-Finnish groups of students. - Master-classes “training trainers” on the base of classes for students groups: teachers, trainers and professors are invited to witness the work of their colleagues and to exchange their experience. - Students' concerts in Savonlinna and St.Petersburg. Participants of master-classes from different schools get a chance to perform together on a stage and to show their skills to parents and public. - Galas of the word-wide known ballet stars, acting also as a powerful stimulating example for the students. - Launching and administrating a special page on internet site of Dance Open Festival with project events, participants, news,results, surveys, reports; creating an efficient communication tool for participants after the end of the main project activities in order to develop the contacts and ideas. - Cultural excursions for students’ groups in St.Petersburg during the period of master-classes.

Achievements

The project managed to reach it's aims and embraced large number of people. 210 ballet students, 19 teachers, 37 star dancers and almost 8000 spectators were involved with the experience of cross-border cooperation actions. Project demonstrated a model of how to facilitate professional and interpersonal exchange between students and professionals in the field of classical dance from Russia and Finland. It developed a new level of co-operation between ballet schools and students in the neighboring countries, helping to further integrate Russian ballet into European cultural life and providing a means to spread the renowned traditions of Russian dance education and performance beyond the borders of Russia. Along the project activities, tourism and related services were also highlighted in the regions of South Savo.