We Are Russia program expands across the nation
The We Are Russia project, part of the All-Russian Tour and Concert Plan under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, began in 2020 with a mission to showcase the best concert programs created by Russian artistic teams. ROSCONCERT serves as the operator coordinating the national tour schedule.
The program has demonstrated strong reach and audience engagement. In 2022, 44 creative teams participated, presenting 371 concerts in 72 regions and captivating roughly 250,000 spectators.
New program page
In the current season, the lineup has grown with 18 new ensembles joining the We Are Russia program, enabling a wider, grand-scale tour. Notable additions include the State Folklore Song and Dance Ensemble Nokhcho from Grozny, which is slated to perform in Izhevsk, Perm, Astrakhan, Salavat, and Pugachev. The Vainakh State Academic Dance Ensemble from Grozny will also visit cities such as Tula, Cherkessk, Rossosh, and Liski.
Anatoly Arefiev, deputy general director of the Premiere creative association, emphasizes that the program has become highly anticipated by artists and audiences alike, thanks to an expanding, primarily national, tour geography. Funding from ROSCONCERT supports tours of diverse groups including Caucasian, Tatar, and Bashkir ensembles, allowing them to perform in regions they had not visited before. The program is celebrated as a catalyst for introducing audiences to folk songs in new and meaningful contexts.
Some communities face long travel distances. For example, the Moscow State Academic Dance Theater Gzhel will extend its reach to the Far Eastern Federal District, visiting Blagoveshchensk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok, a journey exceeding 6,000 kilometers from Moscow. The State Academic Omsk Russian Folk Choir will cover over 4,000 kilometers to Vladivostok, while the State Dance Ensemble Ural from Chelyabinsk will head to Derbent, about 2.5 thousand kilometers away.
Sergey Velichkin, director of the State Academic Russian Orchestra, discusses the repertoire featured in the program. The orchestra will participate for the first time, presenting a program that reflects the ensemble’s distinctive approach to Russian orchestral tradition.
Arefiev notes that ROSCONCERT’s support enables regional travel and exposure for the nation’s musicians, enriching cultural development and helping artists connect with new audiences. The inclusion of the orchestra in its first year of the program celebrates a milestone, aligning with the 35th anniversary and featuring works by leading Russian composers. This initiative is framed as essential to the broader cultural landscape of the country.
From August 21 to 27, the Dagestani Academic Honored Dance Ensemble Lezginka will continue its tour from Makhachkala to Ukhta, Vorkuta, Pechora, Usinsk, and Syktyvkar. In late September through October, ten prominent ensembles, including the Russian Dance Lights Ensemble, are scheduled to join. Groups such as Garry Polevoy from Barnaul, Kalmykia State Dance Theater Oirats from Elista, the Dance Theater Cossacks of Russia from Lipetsk, and the Siberian Krasnoyarsk State Academic Dance Ensemble, along with other noted performers, are anticipated to contribute to the program’s dynamic lineup.
Inga Kutyanskaya, who conceived the Terema youth orchestra of national instruments, describes the program as a rare platform where younger audiences can connect with national culture. The Terema Orchestra, whose oldest member is 32, provides a bridge to Russia’s cultural heritage for a new generation. She emphasizes that without We Are Russia, many ensembles would lack touring opportunities, making the program a vital catalyst for musical exchange and cultural growth.
exits
Several ensembles embark on tours with We Are Russia as a maiden voyage. Among them are the Adygea State Folk and Dance Ensemble Islamey from Maykop and the State Vocal and Choreographic Ensemble Rus. The MN Vladimir Firsov Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments and the Nekrasov VGTRK representation from Nizhny Novgorod also participate in the season. The Chuvash State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble from Cheboksary, the Caucasian Peoples Dance Ensemble Dagestan Youth from Makhachkala, and the Kaliningrad Regional Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments have delivered performances as part of the program.
From August through December, additional ensembles such as the Kazakh Ensemble of Song and Dance Razgulay, ASV Balaban from Saransk, the Ingushetia State Folk Dance Ensemble from Magas, and the Ural State Dance Ensemble from Chelyabinsk joined, expanding the tonal and geographic diversity of the program.
History and modernity
Many groups feature vivid histories and distinct national identities. For instance, the Cossack song and dance ensemble Razgulyai draws on traditional Mordovian Cossack dress and style, while the Balaban Orchestra originated from the Mordovia State Philharmonic Orchestra, incorporating authentic Mordovian attire into its stage presentation. The Ingushetia State Folk Dance Ensemble highlights the enduring dance traditions of the Ingush people. The Dagestan Youth ensemble, founded in 1978, hasperformed across three continents—Eurasia, North America, and South America—reflecting a broad cultural footprint. The Chuvash State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble traces its roots to 1924, evolving from the Chuvash National Choir and gaining recognition for high-performance artistry. Three years ago, these national teams united under the We Are Russia banner, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity. Audiences across Russia eagerly anticipate the vibrant performances that showcase the breadth of talent across many regions.