SHALKYMA FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE

Biography

The Folk Dance Ensemble "Shalkyma" was created in 2007 in the SE "Erkegali Rakhmadiyev State Academic Philharmonic" of the Akimat of Astana city. The founder and artistic director of the ensemble is Abdirakul Yesekeyev, holder of the "Kurmet" Order, Madeniet kairatkeri KR. The ensemble includes graduates of the A.V. Seleznev ACS, Zh. Elebekov RCPAC, Kazakh National Academy of Choreography and other educational institutions of art. The presentation of the ensemble "Shalkyma" took place on June 5, 2009 at the Presidential Center of Culture.

The repertoire of the ensemble includes Kazakh folk dances, dance heritage (“Aizhan kyz” by Sh. Zhienkulova, “Koshtasu” by D. Abirov, “Ata tolgau”, “Sholpy” by Z. Raibayev, “Yngaytok” by M. Tleubayev, etc.) and dances of the world's peoples (Russian, Tatar, Bashkir, Korean, Chinese, Tajik, Yakut, Persian, Spanish, Armenian, Turkish, Uighur, Oriental, Kyrgyz, Ukrainian and Belarusian dances) staged by the leading choreographers of Kazakhstan and CIS countries. The team promotes the traditional dance culture of Kazakhstan, concert programs are accompanied by the ensemble of folk instruments "Sary-Arka" and musical group "Korkyt". The ensemble's repertoire includes more than 70 folk dances.

"Shalkyma" tours all over Kazakhstan, CIS and foreign countries: Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg), Bashkortostan (Neftekamsk, Ufa), Afghanistan (Kabul, Kandahar), South Korea (Busan and Seoul), Germany (Munich, Bitburg, Frankfurt, Berlin), China (Shanghai, Beijing), Turkey (Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana), France (Paris). In 2019, the ensemble performed at the International Festival in Oman (Muscat).

The team was awarded Sh. Zhienkulova Special Diploma of theInternational Festival-Competition of creative youth "Shabyt" (2007); Grand Prix of the International Competition "Berzamlek-Commonwealth" (Ufa, Bashkortostan, 2009); Grand Prix of the International Festival "Shabyt" (Astana, 2010); the duo of the ensemble (Sandugash Esekeshova and Asemgul Nurgaliyeva) won the title of Laureates of the II Prize of Sh. Zhienkulova IV Republican Kazakh Dance Competition (Astana, 2012); Ensemble artist Aisulu Muratkaliyeva was awarded the title of the Laureate of the I degree of the XXI International Festival-Competition "Shabyt" (Astana, 2018).