“On behalf of the United States Government, I congratulate the Russian American Foundation and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy on 15 years of successful partnership. Your collaboration has deepened ties between the U.S. and Russian dance communities and encouraged cross cultural understanding through the arts, despite the challenges in the official bilateral relationship. Your success demonstrates that the Russian and American people can perform, learn, and thrive side-by-side. I wish you many more years of successful collaboration ahead.”
- Honorable John J. Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 2022
“The Russian American Foundation’s contributions to cultural, educational, and sports programs in the United States and Russia help foster greater understanding between the people. Such programs highlight the things that the American and Russian people have in common.”
- Honorable Michael A. McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 2012
In The News | 2008
Dec
1
2008
Kazakh Orchestra at Lincoln Center
New York Daily News: The Kazakh National Folk Orchestra “Otrar Sazy” performed last month at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The concert was sponsored by Erian Idrissov, ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UN and Byrganym Aitimova, permanent representative of Kazakhstand to the UN. It was organized by the Russian American Foundation. Read More
Oct
5
2008
Bolshoi Ballet Academy gives young dancer the chance of a lifetime
L.A. TIMES: In his tough San Bernardino neighborhood, Matthew Leonardi doesn’t talk much of his graceful pirouettes or evenings spent dancing with girls in pink tutus. He’s not ashamed; he just doesn’t need the grief. And the tights are completely off-limits. Read More
July
27
2008
Five Weeks of Ballet Lessons, the Bolshoi way
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Passers-by outside the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center on a blustery morning in late March may have noticed a stream of women ushering girls into this unfinished building on West 60th Street. Keen observers might have noticed that the women came in two distinct sartorial categories: one marked by black leather, heels, fur, dyed blond hair and makeup, the other by carelessly thrown-on tops, loose jeans, flats and very little makeup. Read More