February 21, 2012

AKLERIAH PERFORMS AT RUSSIAN FESTIVAL MASLENITSA

AKLERIAH performs at the London RUSSIAN FESTIVAL MASLENITSA 2012 on Thursday 23.2. from 7-9pm at Debut Contemporary Gallery.

Please see for details
http://maslenitsa.co.uk/home/week/2012
http://www.debutcontemporary.com/blog/2012/2/17/collaboration-with-debut-alumni-performance-artists-akleriah.html

Akleriah press release/statement:

Akleriah is fascinated and intrigued about the history of ‘Maslenitsa’, its pagan roots and the rituals traditionally conducted during this week long celebration.

The MAkleritsa performance conducted for the Russian Maslenitsa Festival 2012 plays with the notions of rebirth, masquerade, pagan rituals and dance; celebrations that are conducted by people of all social status as they consume large amounts of pancakes to ‘lure the sun’. Akleriah performance MAkleritsa embarks on a jolly celebration which unites people, thereby stripping away the layer of social status.

The performance will engage the audience in the Debut Contemporary gallery and move throughout the space, hence enticing people to participate in the creation of a unique, involving and evolving experience at their own leisure.

Performers will use frying pans as props, create new dance rituals along traditional themes and sing traditional Russian folk songs while accompanied by alternative/classical music created by live musicians.

The costumes and makeup will reflect traditional Russian costumes and famous folk tales with the use of folk-craft abstracted patterns which reference Christian and Pagan symbols. The performance will be bright and colorful, with a feeling of carnival and celebration.

The creation of the ‘Akleriah image’ will be a part of the performance which serves as a peephole for the audience, enabling them to see behind the scenes and involve them in the preparations for the Maslenitsa Festival itself, thus, symbolising the progression towards the penultimate day of the festival, Sunday, at Trafalgar Square.

"Having known Lenka and Anna of Akleriah for some time now, I have always found their work, their characters, their vision and mission very inspiring and refreshing. They are incredibly talented and visionary and their collaborative approach to help others in the process is something that drew me to them from Year one and made me decide to nominate them as Debut Contemporary's first official Ambassadors in February 2011. Our ethos and mission to help ambitious and talent artists to become more successful by professionally developing them and assisting them to be in control of their own carriers and their own success is in line with Akleriah's. Equally the Russian art community is full of amazing talent, some of whom we've successfully been working with in the past 12 months and this Festival is a great platform for that talent to shine and get a well deserved exposure and critical acclaim." Samir Ceric, Founder & Managing Director of Debut Contemporary, Notting Hill, London


!!!HAPPY PANCAKING TO EVERYBODY FROM AKLERIAH!!!