Culture Connection

Even during the worst of the Cold War, Americans never lost respect for the arts we received from Russia. Unfortunately they lived up to the "evil empire" tag given to them by Ronald Reagan when they played dirty pool by sending us Yakov Smirnoff. Thankfully, the classics endured through those...

By Mark Hughes

March 1, 2007

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Even during the worst of the Cold War, Americans never lost respect for the arts we received from Russia. Unfortunately they lived up to the "evil empire" tag given to them by Ronald Reagan when they played dirty pool by sending us Yakov Smirnoff. Thankfully, the classics endured through those dark days and are here today to help us heal those wounds. Now we have an opportunity to enjoy an energetic, colorful and authentic Russian carnival at the 11th Annual Russian Winter Festival. It celebrates the 200th Anniversary of U.S.-Russia Relations and features activities for both children and adults, including clowns, juggling, puppetry, acrobatics, gymnastics, other circus arts and lots of music. The festival also hosts art from children and modern Russian artists, the Leil Folk Music Ensemble and Art-Alle Circus and solo artist Svetlana Kuznetsova, a soprano and Honored Artist of Russia who has performed in operas around the world. Take part in the culture 5 p.m. Sunday at Southern Methodist University's McFarlin Auditorium. Tickets are $10 to $30; admission is free for SMU students, faculty and children under 12. Call 1-800-462-7980 or visit centralticketoffice.com. For more information, check out RussianAmericanCenter.net or artalle.boom.ru.
Sun., March 4, 5 p.m.

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