Flight over the Dnieper: the opening of the XIII inclusive festival took place in Roslavl

On October 13, in Roslavl, in the House of Culture "Rostislav", the opening of the XIII International Children's Festival of creative teams, performers and children with disabilities "Flight over the Dnieper" took place. The socio-cultural program of the cultural and leisure center “Gubernsky” won the All-Russian competition of practices in the framework of the federal project “Family Values and Cultural Infrastructure”. The festival this year united three cities: Smolensk, Roslavl and Mstislavl, where Smolensk residents will go on October 22. Read about the brightest performances and artists in this material.

There are events that cannot be measured by the number of participants or the duration of the program. Their value is measured in the silence of the auditorium, when hundreds of hearts beat in unison, and in the thunder of applause that sounds like a promise: “We are with you.” We can see you. This atmosphere was permeated by the XIII international festival "Flight over the Dnieper".

The opening of the holiday, held in Roslavl, from the first minutes set a high note of sincerity. Here, in the Smolensk region, on the banks of the Dnieper, which connects Russia and Belarus, not only geographical borders are erased, but also those invisible walls that society sometimes builds around people with disabilities.

“Flight over the Dnieper” is a space where the diagnosis does not determine the person. This is a place where every child has the right to be himself, where friendship and love rule.

Ilya

Before the concert, I had the chance to meet families whose journey to the stage was full of quiet but unbending courage. Tatiana Bogatskaya came to the festival with her son.

Ilya is a guy with an amazing memory. With a couple of readings, he memorizes huge complex texts and reproduces them with such accuracy that goosebumps run over the skin. He graduated from high school, is in love with biology and music, and often sings at home. The young man has friends, he likes to play chess with his neighbor, and he and his mother are regular visitors to music concerts. The love of creativity led the young man to the inclusive laboratory “Academy of fairy tales”.

- This year Ilya three times went on stage with a huge fairy tale of the Smolensk poetess Love Heart. She was amazed that he knew all this by heart, Tatiana shares with a warm smile.

At the regional stage of the competition "Live Classics" Ilya became the winner, and at the All-Russian final - the laureate. This is a huge rarity in our region. He became a prize-winner of the regional contest “I am an artist”, a laureate of the contest of readers “Children’s KinoMay”, even in the children’s series “111 shelving” managed to star... But the most amazing thing is not the medal, the most amazing thing is how he transforms on stage. Honestly, when Ilya goes under the spotlights, you will never guess that you are not a professional actor. He lives every word.

Ilya’s participation in competitions and concerts began spontaneously, but it turned into a lifelong affair.

Tatiana says honestly:

- I think we need more open places where children can study for free. Drawing, singing, music... You cannot bury your creativity in the ground! We learned about the “Academy of a fairy tale” in the KDC “Gubernsky” and immediately came. It's great to have places like this. I want ordinary people to respect the special. We’ve often had misunderstandings and that’s very painful. It's scary when children are amused by cruelty. May God grant that all have healthy children and that they never know this pain

Sasha

- No one is ready for the birth of an unhealthy child. After all, when we expect the appearance of a baby, we build bright prospects: how he will smile, how he will go for the first time, how he will say “mother” for the first time, Elena Goncharova, the mother of the wonderful girl Sasha Boronina, began her story with these words.

When Alexandra was born, the older sisters had grown up and lived separately, and all the parental warmth was focused on her. And for the first year of life, the family didn't feel anything was going wrong.

- Yes, Sasha was a little unsociable, she did not like hugs very much, did not like to be in her arms, but we always somehow blamed it on the characteristics of her character, Elena recalls. Her first doubts as a mother arose when her daughter did not speak.

Parents, like many before them, fell into the comfort trap.

- My first mistake as a parent, possibly influenced by medical professionals, was that a lot of people said, 'Well, wait, all kids are different.' Someone starts talking earlier, someone later, says Elena. We’ve been trying to live in this place for a long time. But time passed. The peculiarities became more and more, the speech did not appear, and we had to go to the doctors.

The path to being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has been a long one.

To overcome the disease decided creatively.

- When the parent at the beginning of the journey realizes that the child has some problem associated with speech, experts offer classes with a defectologist, with a psychologist. But a three-year-old won't sit down and listen to a teacher. It always comes through play or through creativity.

Once in art therapy, Sasha began to draw. Her work was so profound that an inclusive lab organized a solo exhibition for World Autism Awareness Day.

And in early April of this year, Sasha opened the regional festival “I and Space”. She took to the stage in front of hundreds of spectators and sang a song.

- Due to its peculiarities, we could not afford to perform on stage for a very long time. She had these panic stories, tears, screams. I was very afraid to enter even an empty auditorium, admits Elena. Special thanks to Irina Nikolaevna for saying, “We’ll try.” And until the last second, I didn't know what would happen.

Elena shares her experience with other parents, warning against two extremes: overdiagnosis and long rejection of the problem.

- If, God forbid, there is a diagnosis in your life, it is very difficult and painful, but it should be taken as soon as possible.

A scene that unites hearts

Host Irina Ryzhkova opened the holiday with the words that became the motto of the day: “All children are different, all children are equal.” Art brought everyone together.” Head of the Department for Culture, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Roslavl Municipal District Andrey Simonov took the stage. He spoke about the importance of the unity of the peoples of Russia and the fact that only culture and creativity bring people together in a world full of divisions

- We have to be one with each other. A neighbor should not quarrel with a neighbor, a mother should not quarrel with her son. And all this can be eliminated in creativity, in creative impulse – through song, through dance. Good luck, everyone, and let the stage be for you all.

And the song “The Way of Good” was performed by Alexandra and Ilya.

Then the stage was captured by a dance team from the Shatalovsky Children's Home of Pochinkovo District. The number "You gave wings" fully justified its name - it seemed that these children really soar in the air, overcoming the earth's attraction and life difficulties.

The most touching was the block dedicated to the Smolensk region. It was a real literary and historical bridge to the past of our region.

Artem Lukashov read the poem “Live and do not judge”. In his voice rang such a plea for mercy that the hall froze. Shh, shh. Don't judge, it's a sin. You will rejoice in your soul for success...’ – these words sounded like a message to all of us.

Ilya again. He came out with "The Gunner." In his reading came to life the history of ancient Smolensk, the courage of the defenders. Ilya did not read the text – it was as if he was telling a epic, and at that moment he himself was part of this great story.

Throughout the concert, the theme of memory was a red thread. Leonid Berdyanov from Ekimovichi boarding school sang about Russia in a way that made it clear that these children know the value of peace. And Sergey Egorochkin, reading “Eternal Flame”, made everyone in the hall remember their heroes.

In the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, it was impossible not to mention interethnic friendship once again. The Kalinka Dance Theater performed here, the audience saw the gesture singing performed by Yevgeny Minchenkov.

The head of the department for religious education and catechization of the Roslavl diocese, Archpriest Mikhail GOLTSMAN, coming to the stage, summed up the spiritual result of this holiday:

- The soul must be able to fly. Our artists show how you can overcome all the dark, all the difficult, fill with light and joy. Be inexhaustible optimists.

Instead of an epilogue

Every artist on stage is a whole universe. They're not looking for fame. They seek recognition for what they are. And the Flight over the Dnieper Festival gives them that.

And we should not just notice these guys, but go to the future the way of good – one where there is no hatred and anger and where everyone can be happy. As adults, we need to learn and teach our children to be warmer and kinder to each other. This is the only way we can really fly.

Governor of the Smolensk region Vasily Anokhin:

- By strengthening cooperation with the regions of Belarus, we primarily invest in our common future – in the youth. Our friendship is a living bond of peoples, which we strengthen through culture, creativity, common values and mutual support. The festival “Flight over the Dnieper”, which these days unites young Smolensk and Belarusian talents, is a vivid confirmation of this.