culture

The schoolchildren’s art troupe of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren Palace visited Primorsky Krai of Russia between May 2 and 12.

During their 10-day visit, the schoolchildren’s art troupe gave the premiere at the Primorsky Krai Branch of the Mariinsky Theatre, gave performances again in Vladivostok and Artyom cities amid the enthusiastic congratulations from the Russian people.

After returning home, members of the schoolchildren’s art troupe recollected many of Russian audiences.

A Russian said that he clapped his hands so enthusiastically that they swelled, another man confessed that it was the first time for him to shed tears while hearing the songs sung by foreign schoolchildren and a war veteran excitedly mounted the stage to pin his medal on the chest of a Korean schoolchild.

During their stay in Russia, the whole Primorsky was filled with excitement and shock for the young arts envoys.

It was not only Primorsky residents that felt shock.

The schoolchildren’s art troupe members say in unison that though they stayed there for only ten days, they came to realize once again the warm friendly feelings of the Russian people toward the Korean people and the excellence of the education policy of the DPRK.

Kim Sun Sil, dance instructor at the art creation section of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace, said that she was greatly shocked not only when her students sang the song “We Are the Happiest in the World” but also when they sang the folk song “Arirang”, adding: “The foreign audience enthusiastically cheered to the tune of ‘Arirang’, which is as good as the name card of the Korean folk song. Seeing them, I could not suppress my excited feeling of pride in being a member of the Korean nation.”

Among the art troupe, there was Jon Hye Yong who has been famous internationally as well as among the Korean people since she sang songs well from her childhood. Now working as chief of the art creation section of the palace, she recalled the feelings she received when meeting teachers of Vladivostok. At that time the Russian teachers said they greatly admired the high level of skills of members of the schoolchildren’s art troupe. So Jon told them that her students have never received professional education, but cultivated their talents at extracurricular hobby groups and that there are many such prodigies in her country.

“As I heard the teachers of Vladivostok saying that it is a surprise for them to see a few young talents but many students are on a professional level, I swelled with the pride of being an educator and citizen of socialist Korea,” she said.

During their stay, the schoolchildren’s art troupe spent a good time while visiting different places of Primorsky.

Kim Song Hyon, director of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace, said that during his visit, he came to have a good understanding of the optimistic character of the Russian people who are fond of singing and dancing and their ardent love for justice and their country, extending deep thanks to Primorsky residents for showing utmost sincerity to the troupe members lest they should suffer any slightest inconvenience and for giving them unstinting applause.