A Moment in Time - Dancers from around the world.

Sitting having a quite cup of coffee at home with my friend Jude Tipney, who I first met 40 plus years ago when we started nursing training together, her phone rang and her sense of urgency was such that I though we had a medical emergency on our hands as she commented 'we will be there in a minute'. Fortunately it wasn't, it was her husband Col calling to say that there was a parade just coming past his office window and although he didn't know where they were going many were dressed in National Costume and other fancy outfits and we should get there as soon as possible.

It didn't take long for us to be out the door with camera in hand to see what was happening and where they had gone. Less than 200 metres from our front door we saw a small crowd gathering on the steps of the Childrens Palace Theatre Centre.

Couldn't think that it was a political rally, too many young children, wasn't to do with mining - not enough men or animals..... there has been rallies against all the mining that is taking place in the country as it is disrupting the nomads way of life so they have been bringing their horses into Sukhbaatar Square and speaking to the press but with elections coming up it is going to get a lot more heated than that around here.

 There were people in uniforms with flags but on the whole, a totally disinterested bunch of people all looking in different directions and focusing on different things. Little did they or we realise what was in store for us.....  well I certainly didn't know even if they had an inkling.

 Then we got a little hint of what was going on..... they were dance groups but we still had no idea what was about to happen.

Even the elderly were dressed in some wonderful costumes, although they still appeared bored and disinterested in the whole proceedings.
There were speeches in Mongolian but we had little hope of understanding what they were saying and by the looks on the faces of almost everyone, they didn't know what was going on either or weren't interested.

Loved the costume's of the elderly, some wearing medals they have earned from the government - the women get a medal if they have more than 5 children, I believe.

The first group to perform for us on the steps of the Children's Palace Theatre were these beautifully dressed women in traditional garments, usually worn by royalty, who so obligingly posed for me. Just loved these women who were so happy and delightful. The four men they danced with were also beautifully costumed.

 

Just stunning and what an absolute privilege to see all this by sheer chance for free.

 

 Just stunning outfits.

 

 Next were a group of 6 boys and 6 girls who gave some wonderful displays of acrobatics and dancing but we were particularly impressed with the routine below where two young boys swung the two girls round and round, probably about 10 times or more and they did it so well and so quickly.

Just loved the smile on the face of the little girl above who was so obviously enjoying herself.
Next out were even smaller children who also performed so well doing more traditional dancers.

Just so cute.

 

  They touched each other gently on the face at the end of the dance which was just so sweet.

 Next was the professional dancers who much have been freezing although with the routine they did they wouldn't have been cold for very long. They just seemed to enjoy every minute of the dancing and danced with such enthusiasm, which was lovely so see.

Next were a bright happy bunch of dancers in lovely bright costumes who were extremely energetic as were the next lot in blue and white.

Very enthusiastic and happy.

Waiting in the wings for their performance were this lovely lot of elderly dancers.

Wonderful faces and expressions on this group of perhaps 20 dancers and I could have taken hundreds of photos of just this group of wonderful people.

 

They were just so special and for me, it was such a privilege to have seen them dance.

Next were the military and they were fantastic with their dancing and the story they told with their dance, plus the energy they all had.

It just didn't stop and I was completely enthralled by the wonderful display of dancing and the variety that we saw. It was cold, probably only 1C or 2C and my fingers were beginning to get very stiff cold. But it wasn't over yet.
Next was the Police and they were also great with a great performance of dancing and acrobatics.

Army was next with another brilliant display of dancing and acrobatics.

Comedy w next but they were also wonderful dancers with great costumes as well.

Here was the comic part of it all with the children thoroughly enjoying this performance. The costumes of this dance group were certainly varied and interesting and I would have loved to known what country or area they represented.

This group were almost Santa Claus like in appearance but those sticks looked lethal and I was really worried one was going to go flying, but they were all far to professional for that to happen.

Once again a very enthusiastic group of dancers.

Next up were four energetic young men doing rap dancing and were once again, outstanding.

The finale was a big group of young children brightly and colourfully dressed.

Gorgeous children dancing with such professionalism and enthusiasm.

Just wonderful and so colourful.

From just one quick phone call and being in the right place at the right time, Jude and I were only a handful of westerners and not that many Mongolians to witness an hour and a half of the most wonderful display of dancing I have seen anywhere in the world. From the time we arrived to the time we left we were enthralled and awed by the talent, the costumes, the choreography, the professionalism and just the spirit of these wonderful dancers.

I took over 400 photos so consider yourselves lucky that I didn't put a lot more photos in this blog.

Wow, living in Mongolia brings some truly special moments.

I hope you enjoyed, not as much as we did but I hope you get a little flavour of what it was like.