First International Folk Festival of the Ethnic Art “Altyn-Maidan - Elbrus” was opened in the boarding house “Cheget” in Prielbrussie. It is held through the support of the Ministry of Culture of Kabardino-Balkaria and is timed to Balkars’ Rebirth Days. Dancing groups and actors from Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Chuvashia, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Komi and the city of Tumen take part in the Festival.   

The jury of the Festival is represented by the honored actor of the Russian Federation, counsellor on culture of the embassy of Bulgaria in Russia, singer Biser Kirov; ethno-choreographer Mukhtar Kudaev, associate professor of the Tatar music chair of the Kazan Conservatory Gennady Makarov. The participants of the festival agree that it’s been organized on a high level. As Biser Kirov, the head of jury, said ethnic festivals are musical archives of the mankind. “I am glad I can trace the history of music with the young. The place is marvelous, the hosts are most hospitable, and the weather is beautiful. I hope everything will be perfect”- he shared his impressions.

 Creative director of the festival Zamira Rysaeva informed that folk groups from far abroad confirmed their participation. However they couldn’t come due to visa problems. “I think the festival will become yearly and the musical palette of the participants will get wider” – she said.   

Co-head of jury Mukhtar Kudaev announced that Biser Kirov was responsible for the vocal section of the festival, while his sphere was the one of choreography. “All groups are really strong, they dance on the professional level with beautiful costumes and musical design. It will be very difficult to define the winner” –he thinks.

Before the beginning of the first contest day a co-head of jury Gamira Gadelshina suggested honoring the memory of Valentina Tolkunova by a minute's silence.

KBR Deputy Minister of Culture Aminat Karchaeva and the head of the settlement of Elbrus addressed the participants with warm greetings. Accompanied by the audience Biser Kirov sang a song “Brothers in Mind”. The song has become the anthem of the festival. State folk dance group “Balkaria” opened the program of the festival. Each unit of the program beginning with the dance of the choreographic dance group from Donetsk “Akvareli” and finishing with the performance of the dance group “Dzhuluskhan” from Yakutsk was unforgettable. Variety of costumes, bright appearance of participants, beautiful voices, admirable dances and heartfelt folk music – are the main wealth of any people. Everybody was deeply impressed by the song “Sin bulmasan” performed by soloists of singing and choreographic group from Tatarstan Alena Mukhanova and Timur Shakirov and Rasul Gamzatov’s  song “The heart of the Mother”  performed by Dinara Dzhamalutdinova from Derbent.       

Bashkir dance “Kara Urga” performed by “Guldar” dance group, Udmurt dance “Quadrille with admirers”  performed by folk group “The Blue Bird”  were the brightest units of the concert.

The program of the festival includes master classes on choreography, singing and playing instruments of the peoples of the Northern Caucasus, the day of Caucasian Culture, round tables, concerts and leisure activities.

Gala Concert of the festival will be held on March 28, the Day of  Balkars’ Rebirth. 

Founders and organizers of the festival are administration of Elbrus settlement, Public fund “Assistance on the development of Karachay-Balkar Youth “Elbrusoid”, publishing house “Respublika Tatarstan”.