Event Program

6:30  Guests started arriving, and were greeted with pre dinner drinks & canapes, while background music was played by the Violin Quartet. Guests mingled, sipping champagne & nibbling on canapes, catching up with old friends, being introduced to new friends, and admiring each other's beautiful, extravagant costumes whilst being serenaded by the string quartet.

7:10  The doors swung open, the guests meandered around the Historical Period Display of old Russian costumes, and ballroom accessories, pausing to read the Romanov Dynasty Family Tree which spanned 304 years from 1613-1917. Guests were then ushered into the ballroom & seated at their tables, while a moving images presentation dedicated to the Romanov Dynasty-400th Anniversary was displayed on the stage screen, followed by the playing of the First Russian National Anthem, God Save the Tsar.

7:30  RERC President, Mr Boris Metlenko, welcomed the Guests, and the Ball officially opened with the Polonaise performed by the beautiful & talented Russian Choreographic Academy ballerinas. The dance bracket concluded with Mon Plaisir also performed by the Russian Choreographic Academy. The amazing talent & dedication to their craft was obvious, as the ballet dancers displayed perfectly synchronised & graceful movements, while guests looked on with great admiration.

8:15  Entree Served

8:40  The orchestra - La Fraternita di Solisti - played music for the first half of the Ball, conducted by Gyula Cseszko. The Rousichi Dance Ensemble led guests onto the dance floor, as they started the dance bracket with the Mazurka, displaying their ability to dance traditional ballroom as well as folk dances. Guests danced & swirled around the dance floor, the costumed gentlemen spinning their bejewelled female partners in their gorgeous ballgowns, laughing & enjoying all the fun & excitement.

9:10  Main Course Served

Renowned performer, Lara Khronovska, entertained the guests with her beautiful songs, accompanied by Alex Vengerovsky & his music. People know & love Lara for her rich voice, talented singing ability, and her great personality all of which combine to provide guests with great enjoyment & enthusiasm to sing along or dance the night away.

9:40  The lights were dimmed, then the spotlight shone onto the surprise 13 year old guest talent from Brisbane, ballerina Nina Sudnitsin. Dressed in a filmy white gown & white traditional Russian kokoshnik headdress bejewelled with Swarovski crystals, she glanced downwards demurely as she delicately raised to her dainty chin a sheer white scarf hooked around her finger. Guests gazed in wonder as Nina floated up and down the dance floor, spinning & leaping, "just like an angel!" exclaimed some guests. As Nina finished her performance with the traditional flourish of the scarf in a low bow to all in the ballroom, guests stood up in standing ovation, clapping their hands & crying "Bravo! Bravo!"

Lara & the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Yuri Kamensky, entertained the guests with competitions of Who can Faint the Best and How to Speak the Secret Language of Fans. This was followed by the Costume Parade, and awarding of all sorts of prizes for Best Costume as well as the Grand Lottery.

The RERC Honorary Award & Medal for outstanding contributions to the Russian community was presented to Mrs Lubov (Luba) Vasilievna Baksheev, who has been directing & managing two traditional Russian folk dance ensembles for many years, one of which is called "Sudarushka" (since 2005), the other "Kalinka" (since 1991). Luba had performed as a soloist with the Kolobok Dance Company & became Artistic Director of the Theatrical Society many years ago. Luba says she & her dancing groups absolutely love the traditional Russian folk customs & dances, and enjoy sharing their love for all things Russian with all who care to watch & enjoy it all with them.

10:10 The next dance bracket opened with Sudarushka Dance Ensemble performing the Horovod / Khorovod the most popular and most ancient of Russian folk dances. It is a round dance – people stand in a circle (resembling the solar disk) and move from east to west, as does the Sun in its movement across the sky. Performed during three seasons – spring, summer and autumn – this round dance reflects such distinctive traits of the Russian national character as joyfulness, creativity and enthusiasm. Without doubt, the khorovod may be considered a symbol of beauty – the beauty of movement, of the surrounding world, and of course of human beings. 

10:35  Dessert Served

The Rousichi Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Lilia Dutova, danced the Polka Troika - a fun social dance performed by 1 man & 2 women. Then they invited and drew out onto the dance floor guests who were willing to learn and dance the Polka Troika too, following the simple yet firm instructions of Lilia. Much fun & laughter filled the ballroom, as guests enjoyed the night of wining, dining & dancing as if amongst the Tsars! 

10:50  Dance Bracket till Midnight, the close of the evening

As guests were leaving the Plaza Ballroom, they were bid a good night & presented with Guest Gift Bags as mementos of Tsar Ball, as was done centuries ago in the time of the Tsars, when guests were given gifts as token of thanks for attending special events organised by the Tsar.