Dance Wave Award

September, 25 Dance Wave Music Award will be held in Archangelsk, industrial and seaport city on the White sea, in the very North of European Russia. The Award is sponsored by Dance Wave project of...

September, 25 Dance Wave Music Award will be held in Archangelsk, industrial and seaport city on the White sea, in the very North of European Russia. The Award is sponsored by Dance Wave project of Radio Europa Plus Archangelsk (a local division of nationwide radio station 'Europa Plus'). The project is dedicated to modern dance music, so nine nominations covers all the aspects of Dance Life. The best project, best event, DJ, individual dancers and dance groups, tours and naturally, mass media and journalists who contributed the most to the development of youth dance culture are to be awarded.

Contrary to most of the contests in Russia, where the participants are chosen by 'specialists', the nominees would be presented by the Europa Plus Archangelsk audience directly. Pro's in jury will just rank them by numbers.

There is an opinion that intensive cultural life in Russia is limited mainly to Capitals (Moscow and St. Petersburg), and what is happening in so called 'provincial' cities is just secondary. This opinion is as common as wrong. Events that became just formalities in Capitals, like awards, are very fresh and vivid in 'provincia'. The contribution of the cities like Archangelsk into the national culture and music particularly tends to be underestimated. Quite intensive cultural and musical life of the city is supported by mass media as well as by broad public. Award established by local radio, aimed on support and development of advanced youth culture is unique and pleasant not only for the city but for the country. A lot of maitres of Russian youth-aimed music mentions that the fact that Russia feels culturally retarded in comparison with the leading countries, the feeling and the way of life inherent to the country in general, roots in vast inequality of cultural life in the regions. There are few cities in Russia where bright events are common and there is all the rest of the country. The positive changes happening or anticipated has to go hand in hand with development of local cultural life independent from the Capitals. Just the way typical to the countries known for their art and music. If not, the economics can improve, but the atmosphere of "sovok" (everything doom associated with Soviet regime, from poor technology to life attitudes) will stay, along with the tendency for people to escape from their native places to capitals and few major cultural centers.

September, 25 is the second anniversary of Dance Wave project. This is a good day to hand out the awards and a good start for a new musical season in the city.

07.09.1999, Борис ЛАБКОВСКИЙ (ЗВУКИ РУ)