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On Wednesday October 1, West Side students were treated to some traditional Russian music and dance when the Yarmarka Russian Folk Ensemble paid a visit. The group's 30 members, who range in age from 19 to 46, are divided into three groups: orchestra, singers, and dancers. Members are all volunteers, and among them are an ecologist, a geophysical engineer, an ambulance driver, a photographer, and a history teacher. Organized in 1989, the ensemble's many tours have taken them to Greece, France, Germany, and Luxemburg. Along with their desire to make new American friends and study our culture, their three-week visit to the Elkhart area is an important fundraising tour to finance a children's hospital in Russia that specializes in the treatment of cancer. Eighth grader Beth Erdmann commented: "I thought the folk dancers were really cool.
They had neat costumes, and the instruments they played were interesting.
The coolest thing about what they were doing was that they are raising money
for a children's hospital in their home town. They're giving a longer
performance at the Elco on Saturday at 7:30. I know that I will
definitely try to be there!"
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