Figure 1.--This is the Singing and Dancing Ensemble of V. Loktev performing in Moscow during 1975.

A Russian reader mentions the Singing and Dancing Ensemble of V. Loktev. We have little information on the group. We are not sure when it was founded. We know that it was active during the 1970s and readers tell us that it contibues to operate in the 2000s. As the name suggests, it was a performing ensemble and not just a choir. Both boys and girls participated. The performance costume can be seen here in 1975 (figure 1). We note the children practicing for a dance to be presented All-Union Exhibition of the USSR in 1977. Here they appear to be wearing what look like Young Pioneer uniforms (figure 2). he V. Loktev Ensemble prepared their performances at a specialized summer camp (leased by V. Loktev's Ensemble of Dancing and Singing). The dancing and singing was part of the children's activity at the camp. I know nothing about V. Loktev, but notice a film star named A. Loktev who was in a Russian commedy movie, "I Walk Around Moscow"

The Group

A Russian reader mentions the Ансамбль песни и пляски им.В.Локтева (Singing and Dancing Ensemble of V. Loktev). We are not sure when it was founded. We know that it was active during the 1970s and readers tell us that it contibues to operate in the 2000s. As the name suggests, it was a performing ensemble and not just a choir. Both boys and girls participated. The uniform worn in the 1970s was a blue closed front vest worn with matching short pants or skirts. We have no additional information on this group at this time. Hopefully our readers will provide us with more details. A reader in Moscow tells us, "Yes, the Loktev Song and Dance Ensemble still exists. In fact this Embassy has contacted them for possible collaboration on Philippine and Russian folk dances."

Age

Children age 7-14 years participated in the Ensemble.

The Children

The Singing and Dancing Ensemble of V. Loktev are a coed group. We are unsure how they were recruited or chosen. These may be children which have a talent or interest in the arts, notably singing and dancing. Just hpw they managed to participate in the group, I am not sure.

Figure 2.--The Loktev children here practicing for a dance to be presented All-Union Exhibition of the USSR in 1977. They appear to be wearing what look like Young Pioneer uniforms. A HBC reader has provided an inset showing the actual colors (different from standard pioneer uniform) as he remembers them.

Costumes

The performance costume can be seen here in 1975 (figure 1). We note the children practicing for a dance to be presented All-Union Exhibition of the USSR in 1977. Here they appear to be wearing what look like Young Pioneer uniforms (figure 2). A HBC reader has provided an inset showing the actual colors (different from standard pioneer uniform) as he remembers them. Of course, for practice the children normally wore casual dress commonly worn at home. This was normally for the boys in the summer a "T"-shirt, short pants, and sneakers or sandals--typical summer clothes. The special (non-standard) uniform (yellow shirt, blue-green shorts, white socks and ballet shoes, scarlet-red pioneer necktie) - i.e., the summer uniform of the Ensemble would be put on only next day just before the performance.

Summer Camp

The V. Loktev Ensemble prepared their performances at a specialized summer camp (leased by V.Loktev's Ensemble of Dancing and Singing). The dancing and singing was part of the children's activity at the camp. We have very limited information about the V. Loktev Camp, but readers may want to look at the general information collected on Soviet Pioneer camps. Singing and dancing was one of the activities at these camps. Children at Soviet summer camps had a unform of white shirts with their red pioneer neckerchiefs and blue short pants or skirts. They did not wear it all the time, but would dress up in it a few times each week. Apparently a few special camps had destinctive uniforms. The V. Loktev boys appear to have worn mustard yellow shirts with red kerchiefs and green short pants.

Figure 3.--Two Loktev boys here are praticing their dance piece in the ordinary summer clothes they normally wore while practicing.

V. Loktev

I know nothing about V. Loktev, but notice a film star named A. Loktev who was in a Russian commedy movie, "I Walk Around Moscow" (Ia shagaiu po Moskve) (1963).

Choral Music

We have no information at this time as to just what type of choral music they sing.

Dance Routiens

When a Russian reader first told us about this group we at first thought that it was a choir. After obtaining more information we find that it is not really a traditional choir although they do sing coral numbers. Our information is still limited, but they appear to be as much a dance as a coral group. As the name implies they also give performances with dance numbers along with their singing. We have no information at this time as to just what type of dance routiens that they perform.

Sources

Atienza, Roderico C. E-mail message, February 16, 2006.