SANN News
KATHMANDU, Aug. 31: Russian ballet artist and choreographer Ekaterina Chernykh performed classical ballet alongside Nepali dancers in Kathmandu on Monday as part of events marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Russia.
Chernykh, a professional associated with the Bolshoi Theatre, performed excerpts inspired by The Dying Swan and the Russian and Spanish dances from Swan Lake at the Real Rhythm & Soul 2026 gala held at the D.A.V. Auditorium (Budha Hall).
The programme was organised by Sushila Arts Academy in collaboration with the Russian House in Kathmandu.
The performance brought Russian classical ballet to the Kathmandu stage and provided Nepali dancers an opportunity to perform alongside an experienced international ballet professional.
The gala featured a range of artistic performances, including contemporary and cultural dances, aerial performance, Indian classical dance, hip-hop, breaking and B-boying, live violin, theatre and storytelling.
The event was also part of cultural activities being organised to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Russia in 1956.
As part of the programme, Chernykh conducted Russian ballet master classes at the Russian House in Kathmandu on August 29. Nepali dance teachers, young dancers and students from Sushila Arts Academy and other participating groups attended the sessions.
The master classes focused on Russian ballet methodology, choreography techniques, movement and dance education. Organisers said the sessions provided an opportunity for Nepali dancers and teachers to exchange knowledge and gain exposure to professional ballet practices.
Chernykh is a ballerina, teacher, choreographer and coach with experience in classical ballet, jazz, neoclassical and modern dance. She is a graduate of Rostov Choreographic College, a branch of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, and participated in the reopening of the Bolshoi Theatre’s main stage in 2011.
She later performed with the Moscow Ballet of Classical Choreography and has toured in more than 70 countries. Her professional career includes participation in more than 50 productions and more than 300 choreographic works.
The 2026 edition of Real Rhythm & Soul also presented a story centred on courage, self-belief, kindness and unity. The production followed Ash, a bird who struggles to recognise his own worth before finding courage and transforming into the Phoenix.
According to the organisers, the event also had a humanitarian component, with part of the funds raised through the gala intended to support people affected by floods in Nepal.
Sushila Arts Academy, founded in 2012 by Yulia Koirala, works in music, dance, visual arts and theatre and operates a ballet school focused on arts education and the development of young artists.
The academy and the Russian House in Kathmandu have collaborated on a number of cultural and educational activities, including performing arts projects, drama classes and joint productions.
The organisers said the participation of Russian and Nepali artists in the anniversary programme reflected the role of cultural exchange in strengthening people-to-people relations and promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.
