“The Seychelles Have Never Experienced Anything Like This”: Russian Ballet Presented on the Archipelago’s Main Stage

“The Seychelles Have Never Experienced Anything Like This”: Russian Ballet Presented on the Archipelago’s Main Stage.

An exhibition titled “The Bolshoi Theatre: Through Time” has opened in the capital of the Seychelles, followed by the first-ever performance by artists from Russia’s leading theatres on the stage of the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS). For audiences on the archipelago, it was a rare opportunity to experience Russian performing arts live. An African Initiative correspondent attended the event.

The exhibition was created by the Bolshoi Theatre Museum specifically for its presentation in the Seychelles. As Russian Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev noted, this marks the first time the exhibition has been showcased on the African continent. He expressed his gratitude to the Seychellois authorities and the National Museum for hosting the exhibition and invited guests to attend the concert by the Russian artists.

According to Cecile Kalebi, the Seychelles’ Principal Secretary for Culture, the project demonstrates “the enduring power of culture to bring nations together.” She noted that through music, dance, and artistic heritage, countries celebrate not only their own history but also the growing friendship between the Seychelles and Russia.

Visitors had the opportunity to admire costumes created for world-renowned productions such as The Nutcracker and La Bayadère. As the Russian ambassador emphasized, each costume is a work of art in its own right, representing the dedication of artists, designers, craftsmen, and generations of theatre professionals.

Following the performance, Seychellois film director John Paul Etienne thanked the Russian artists and the organizers for bringing “beauty and elegance” to Victoria’s premier concert venue:

 “I am proud to have come from the same school. To see people from my school—the great Russian ballet school, the embodiment of the great Russian spirit—travel all the way to these islands is simply incredible. (…) What matters most to me is seeing the world united through culture. Along with Sleeping Beauty, we hear Tchaikovsky’s music resonating here in the Seychelles. It is something truly extraordinary. It is beautiful.”

Read more on the African Initiative website about the exhibition, the performances presented on Victoria’s stage, and the impressions they left on Seychellois audiences.

https://afrinz.ru/2026/07/seyshely-ne-ispytyvali-nichego-podobnogo-rossiyskiy-balet-predstavili-na-glavnoy-stsene-arhipelaga/