By Kaushalendra Singh -
Pictures by Hamed al Khatiri -
Salalah Tourism Festival once again welcomes its beloved Taberik dancing group from Kyrgyzstan, that mesmerise the audience with their flawless performance.
An ecstasy of thrilling circus-style stunts with exhilarating dance performances are their specialty. Their performance alongside Omani dancers and music programmes gives a unique touch to the festival.
The older artistes take part in Bishkek-based Taberik’s Shadow Dance, while the younger ones perform gymnastics and other dance performances. The troupe’s shows are widely popular around the world.
These kids between 12 and 17 years old are the magic charm of the Salalah Tourism Festival. Their actions are so magnificent that no one can afford to pass them without having a pause or walking along with them when they are performing or taking part in the daily carnival show of the festival.
The children’s team from Kyrgyzstan is always eager to perform without any sign of tiredness and they are so quick in action that they leave everyone guessing when they suddenly appear on the stage in a different costume. They leave the audience guessing and asking to themselves “are they the same children who were participating in the carnival?”
And before they get the answer in ‘yes’ and ‘no’ they are glued to their amazing performance and suddenly these smart kids are out for another show in the same ground.
“We are always ready to perform,” said Aidana, 12, who studies in class VII in Kyrgystan and has come to perform in the Salalah Tourism Festival.
This is her first visit to the Sultanate of Oman and looks delighted to get this opportunity. “This is a beautiful country and people here are also good,” says Aidana with a childlike innocence.
Her friend, Tanya, 12, who studies in same class in the same school in Kyrgyzstan is quick to add that her country is also “very beautiful, cold and green and hot sometimes.”
Olga V Arakeljan is the group leader of the Kyrgyz team. She is the Art Director at Children’s Music Theatre ‘Taberik’, which has more than 500 children in the age group of 4 to 17.
The group prepares children in gymnastics, dance and many other art and craft activities and takes them for participation in national and international events.
“We are coming to Oman for the last 10 years and this is the testimony to our success and good reputation among the Omani nationals. Our performances are liked by everyone here because we focus on something different and design programmes according to the festival’s requirements,” said Arakeljan.
“The festival this year has been dedicated to children. Our kids come under that category and we have many programmes for children and we are participating in the festival with many new features this year,” she said.
Taberik is associated with festivals in Salalah and Muscat from 2000. Besides doing their own performances, the troupe’s children perform alongside other shows. Their performances alongside the local Omani dance and music programmes are something unique, which add more colour to the festival.
“The troupe is divided into groups. The older artistes take part in Bishkek-based Taberik’s Shadow Dance, while the younger ones perform gymnastics and other dance performances,” says Arakeljan.
The troupe’s shows are widely popular around the world. A combination of thrilling circus-style stunts with exhilarating dance performances are their specialty.
Not surprisingly, Taberik Children’s Music Theatre is hugely popular among the organisers of high-profile international cultural festivals and gala launch events.
The Taberik troupe has performed at many places in European, Middle Eastern, Asian and Far Eastern countries.
“It’s great to be in Oman. Every year we look forward to coming to Oman to participate in Muscat Festival and Salalah Tourism Festival,” said a representative of Taberik. The Taberik team finds the audience in Oman disciplined and receptive. They are delighted to see audience from so many different nationalities at one place. They also find positive vibration in whole of the country and like Salalah weather in particular.
