SPECIAL EVENTS
The Category of Special Events includes those of unusual quality, are a one-time occurence and have conferred a continuing benefit.
The Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi
The RCC/FRCC sponsored performances of Nadezhda Pavlova, Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi, at the Russian Embassy and National Theatre.

Nadezhda Pavlova, like another Bolshoi Prima, Maya Pliesetskaya, gained fame at an early age. Nadezhda has written her own page of Bolshoi history, including being the first ballerina to perform the dramatic leaps, previously done only by men.

For these performances she created a new dance for Washington audiences, The Swan. In return, a special dessert, Pavlova Faberge, was created by the FRCC and served to the Prima at historic City Tavern Club in Georgetown. (See "Cuisine" section of web site.)

During her stay in Washington, Nadezhda was invited to be guest of honor at ballet classes at the Washington Ballet School and the Duke Ellington School of Music. In return the students received invitations for the performance in the Helen Hayes Gallery at the National Theatre.

The Prima was supported in her performances by dancers and costume design from the International Ballet Theatre of Philadelphia, Vladimir Shoumeikin, Artistic Director.

The evenings were a "performance history' of classical ballet including choreography by the famous Fokin (created the Dying Swan for Anna Pavlova) and Petipa (Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty). The Prima said that she is commited to classical ballet which she defines as eternal (not old) ballet. (See a description of the painting, "Eternal Ballet" which captures the history of classical ballet, on the "RCC Art Collection" section of this web site.)
Above top, the Prima descends from one of her dramatic leaps, previously only done by male ballet dancers. Appreciative audience in the Gold Room of the Russian Embassy.

Top to bottom this column: the Prima and supporting dancers from the International Ballet Theatre of Philadelphia at the Embassy and National Theatre. Below, the Prima signs autographs for students from the Washington Ballet School and the Duke Ellington School.
Russian American Relations - Past, Present, Future. Ambassadors Thomas Pickering and Yuli Vorontsov
Sharing a laugh about the Cold War... Unyielding on NATO and Chechnya... Despite occasional differences, we will not turn our backs on over 200 years of friendship.
Invitation included, clockwise from upper left: the colonial Russian and American flags; the U.S. and USSR flags torn apart during the Cold War; the current period represented by the FRCC symbol: the joined Russian & American flags and the Lamp of Knowledge---signifying that education, like this seminar, is the key to peace.
"The Red Army is no longer camped on the Oder River... bring Russia into NATO!" --Prince Obolensky
Seminar with Deputy Secretary of State and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, the Honorable Thomas Pickering, and former Russian Ambassador to the United States, and current President of the Russian-American Business Council, the Honorable Yuli Vorontsov. (December 16, 2000).

Ambassadors Vorontsov and Pickering delivered prepared statements and their positions on Russian American relations, with emphasis on current issues. This was followed by questions from the floor, which covered a wide range of issues from NATO to Chechnya to the U.N. to commercial relations.
Vladimir Grachev, United Nations, "What do both countries see as the role of the United Nations in the 21st century?"
RCC Director Batova: "This is a rare opportunity to hear from two Ambassadors, who are long time veterans of Russian American diplomacy at the highest levels." FRCC Chairman Costley: Our university students presented 2 questions: 'What is the "Red Phone"? and "What do Russian college students think of Americans?"
Mikhail Gorbachev at the RCC
To be continued