2006

Jan 1 – Sun – Russian Holiday: New Year / Новый Год (day off)
Holiday greetings and songs

Jan 7 – Russian Holiday: (Orthodox) Christmas / Рождество (day off)
Holiday greetings and songs

Jan 7 – Sat – 12:30 pm – Russian Children's Center New Year's Party
Stone Creek Church, 17844 N. 7th. Ave.(1.5 mile south of 101-Loop Freeway, or 1/2 mile north of Bell, at Grovers), Phoenix, AZ 85023 — The Russian Children’s Center “Golden Key” invites children of all ages (up to 100 years old) and their parents to a Russian Holiday:

"New Year Adventures"— performance for the children
Ded Moroz and Snegurochka (Grandfather Frost and Snow Girl)
Singing and dancing around the New Year’s tree
Refreshments
Cost: $10 for children, which includes a traditional Russian New Year's present, and $2 for adults.
Contact us to reserve your present no later than December 30th as the number of presents will be limited to the number of reservations. Nbor@cox.net, or phone: 480-699-8796, or 602-315-7722

Jan 15 – Sun – 3 - 5:30 pm – Tucson – Soccer – Футбол
Snova igraem v football (soccer) kazhdoe voskresenen's s January, 15 2006, s 3:00 - 5:30 PM na Udall Park (see map on my site) — Just for Fun! Zakupil miachi i mini-vorota dlia nebol'shih komand. Everybody's Welcome!!! — Po vsem voprosam zvonite mne (520) 990-3062, E-mail: DJ Tolik

Feb 2 thru 25 – Daily Closed Sun & Mon – Russian Artists Photo Exhibit
Lisa Sette Gallery, 4142 N. Marshall Way (1 block West of Scottsdale Road, North of Indian School Road, 1 block East of Goldwater Blvd), Scottsdale, 85251 —- Contemporary photographic work by Russian artists Valeriy Gerlovin and Rimma Gerlovina. — Phone: (480) 990-7342 — Gallery Open: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday evening; noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Closed Sunday and Monday. — Free event.

Feb 4 – Sat – 7:30 pm – Tucson – Russian Winter Festival
Feb 5 – Sun – 2 pm – Repeat
The largest Russian music concert and dance performance in Arizona featuring the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra, Kalinka Russian Dancers, Sons of Orpheus Men's Chorus — at Pima Community College, Center for the Arts Proscenium Theater, 2202 W. Anklam Road, Tucson, Arizona — Tickets $15 adults, $10 students. Available now at: West Side: Pima College Center for the Arts Box Office, 520-206-6986; University Area: The Folk Shop, 2525 N. Campbell Ave, 520-881-7147; Eastside: Instrumental Music, 7063 E. Speedway, 520-733-7334 — For more information call 520-743-2347

Photos of 2005 Concert (CLICK to ENLARGE):

Feb 10 to 12 — Rusyn Dance Workshop
St. Melany Byzantine Catholic Church 1212 N. Sahuara Ave, Tucson, AZ 85712 — Father Robert Rankin (520) 886-4225 — Workshop will be taught by Jack Poloka and Dean Poloka, director and co-director of Slavjane Folk Ensemble and teachers of Slavic-style dance for over 40 years combined in McKees Rock, Pennsylvania. Rusyn dance is a folk dance that originates from the transcarpathian area of Eastern Europe, mainly Eastern Slovakia and Western Ukraine. — Class for all ages, beginners through advanced are welcome. Cost $20 a day per individual, $25 per day for a family and $25 a weekend for an individual or $50 a weekend for a family. — On Saturday February 11 from 7-9pm, Dean Poloka, Vice President of the National Carpatho-Rusyn Society will be presenting a lecture, "Fr. Alexander Duchnovich, Rusyn National Awakener" The lecture will also be at St. Melany's and is free. Please contact Leslie Kurtak at deserttea@yahoo.com if you would like to registar.

Feb 11 – Sat – 1 pm – Germans from Russia Meeting
AZ Sun Chapter at the Glendale Foothills Library, 19055 N 57th Avenue (north of Union Hills Drive), Glendale, AZ . — There will be some light refreshments (not a meal).

Speaker: Professor Seigmund Ziebart (cousin of Elvera Reuer). He will be sharing about his work with the Bessarabien Haus in Stuttgart, Germany where he now lives. He was born in South Russia and ended up in Germany after WW II.

If you are on the mailing list, be sure to look at the label and if you are NOT a current 2005 member, be sure to pay at the meeting. If you are not on the Newsletter mailing list we would love to have you join our organization. National dues are $50 and local dues are $10. E-mail: Larry Haas

Feb 16 – Thur – 9 pm – Phoenix TV Channel 8 – Royal Family: Love and Revolution
Feb 17 – Fri – 12 am (midnight)
A profile of Dagmar, who wed Russian prince Alexander III. — Part 4 of this Danish-made 6-part series tells the history of a royal family that has links all over Europe. This episode begins in 1864 when Christian IX and Queen Louise's second-eldest daughter, Dagmar met her dream prince, Nicholas (Nixa), after he arrived in Denmark from Russia. When they got engaged they scratched their names on a windowpane at Fredensborg Palace in Denmark, and Dagmar became accustomed to a completely new life as the future Czarina of Russia. But that very year Nixa died of meningitis and Dagmar was passed on to his brother, Alexander (III). The couple had five children, of whom the eldest, Nicholas (II), married the German Princess Alix of Hessen-Darmstadt, against his parents' will. She bore him four daughters and finally a son. The royal family realized in horror that the son was a haemophiliac and in despair at her son's ill health, Alix sent for "the holy man", Rasputin. When the long-haired, shabby man appeared in the elegant apartments he left behind him a life of drink and women and when he repeatedly succeeded in stopping the boy's haemorrhaging, he completely won Alix's confidence. Revolution was smouldering and Nicholas II was taken to Siberia with his family, and he, Alexandra and their five children were shot in the "House of Special Purpose". Two of the children, Maria and Alexei, are still missing. Dagmar spent two years under house arrest in the Crimea before being rescued by the HMS Marlborough, a British warship. Until the day she died in 1928, she refused to believe that Nicholas II and his wife and children had been assassinated. Xenia and Olga, Dagmar's two daughters, also escaped from Russia and settled in English and Denmark, respectively. Both have numerous descendants including Princess Olga Romanoff, Xenia Kulikovsky and Paul Kulikovsky.

Feb 23 – Mon – Russian holiday: Protector of Motherland Day (literal: Defender of the Fatherland)
День защитника отечесва — Den' zashchitnika otechestva — Known until recently as Soviet Army Day, popularly viewed as holiday for all men. It's a day off over there. And treated like the male equivalent of Women's Day (March 8).

Feb 23-25 – Sedona Film Festival – 2 New Russian films
All films shown at Harkins Sedona 6, 2081 West Highway 89A (at Coffee Pot Drive), Sedona — Phone: 928-282-2221 — Theater Express Code: 226

Frida vs. Frida (Also Shown at the 2005 Moscow film festival.)
Director: Natalia Nazarova — Documentary Short, Russia, 2005, 39 minutes
This is a portrait of Frida Kahlo, the painter, against the backdrop of a simmering Mexico and in the company of men and women of outstanding personalities — Diego Rivera, Leon Trotsky, Tina Modotti and Andre Breton. It shows the inner dispute of the creative artist, with commentaries from her contemporaries — art critic Rachel Tibol and Diego Rivera's daughter Guadalupe Rivera-Marin.
SCREENING: In Shorts Program 3

Feb. 24 — Fri — 8:05 am — Harkins Theatre 2
Feb. 25 — Sat — 1 pm — Harkins Theatre 5

Twilight : Сумерки (Russian with English subtitles)
Director: Victoria Gamburg — Dramatic Short, USA, 2005, 21 minutes
In Russia, a beloved child lost, and found, and lost again. It is the white nights of the northern Russian summer, a time of neither night nor day. A woman searches the streets of St. Petersburg for her missing daughter while coping with the indifference and ineptitude of a destitute bureaucracy. Another child appears, providing her with a fleeting moment of emotional respite. A second tragedy emboldens the woman to make a critical choice. Shot on location in St. Petersburg, Russia.
SCREENING: Screens with Visioning Tibet and My Backyard Was a Mountain

Feb. 23 — Thurs — 3:30 p.m. — Harkins Theatre 5
Feb. 25 — Sat — 8 a.m. — Harkins Theatre 1

Feb 25 — Sat — 9 pm — 2 am — TUCSON: Прздничная Русская Дисктека
k 23 февралая — Дню Защитгника Отечесв — Посетителяам в любой военной форме — бесплатний вход! -- Вход$ 5 (at DJ's table) — "EAST SIDE GRILL" Bar, Tucson, 9403 E.Golf Links Rd (at Harrison Rd), Tucson — Подробности на www.djtolik.com — A "Holiday Disco" celebrating Feb 23. Admission $5, free if you wear any military uniform. More information at www.djtolik.com

Mar 8 – Wed – Russian holiday: International Womens' Day
Women receive flowers, presents and are toasted by men.

Mar 11 – Sat – 9 pm to 2 am – Tucson: Diskoteka k 8 Marta
Midway Business Park, 4500 E. Speedway #19 (1 block west of Swan) — Vhod (admission) $ 5 — тел. (520) 512-0206 — www.djtolik.com : playing today's Russian hits — This is a dance party celebrating International Womens' Day which occured Wednesday March 8.

Mar 14 – Tues – 9-10 pm – KPHO TV Channel 5: Amazing Race 9
I Am in Russia Playing with the Dolls (New) — The teams take a ride across a 300-foot zip line in Brazil to receive a clue that instructs them to fly to Moscow, where they search through thousands of Russian nesting dolls for another clue.

Mar 18 – Sat – 7 pm – European Night
The Garvin School of International Management (T-bird), 15249 N. 59th Ave (at Greenway), hosts their annual European Night — live Russian guitar music, entertainment and food from Italy, Russia, Germany and France. All friends invited. No cost. — See map of campus showing free parking and event location. — For more information contact T-Bird Russian Club president Ulviyya Abdullayeva

Mar 23 — 30 — Ukrainian Film: Flowers Don’t Grow Here
2006 Phoenix Film Festival Short Film Selections, World Cinema Documentary Competition — "Flowers Don’t Grow Here," filmed undercover over four months and told through the eyes of a gang of Kiev’s street kids, offers an intimate and uncompromising portrayal of the young individuals paying the ultimate price for political reform. The Film offers a unique window into the stark realities of life in a country in crisis, illuminating a nation seemingly paralysed between 'old' and 'new' Europe. Young mothers, united siblings, close friends and sworn enemies form an unusual underworld of society, governed by their own rules, haunted by prostitution, substance abuse, crime, violence, child abduction, and even murder.

Mar 25 — Sat — 7:30 pm — Tucson: Ukrainian and Eastern European Festival
Pima Community College (CFA on map), Center for the Arts Proscenium Theater, 2202 W. Anklam Road (at Greasewood Road), Tucson, Arizona — Barvinok Ensemble of Tucson presents Ukrainian and Eastern European Festival, Featuring Rusyny folk dance Ensemble, Mzekala Bulgarian singer’s ensemble— Nina Tritenichenko, artistic director. Special Guest Artists: Ola Herasimenko (Oliynyk, bandura), Daniel Nicolini (balalaika).— Tickets $15 ($10 for students) from Pima Community College by phone: 520-206-6986 — For information, call (520) 591-2266.

Apr 1 – Tucson: Arizona AATSEEL Conference: CALL for PAPERS DEADLINE
For the April 22 AATSEEL Conference (below), we are seeking papers on Slavic literature, linguistics, or culture. All faculty and graduate students are invited to present. — If you are interested in presenting, please contact Meghan Murphy-Lee (phone 520-626-1404) no later than April 1st.

Apr 1 – Sat – 1 to 3 pm – Meet an Adoptive Mother
Glendale Public Library Foothills Branch, 19055 N. 57th Ave.19055 N 57th Avenue (1/4 mile north of Union Hills Drive), Glendale, AZ —- International Family Services, a licensed, non-profit adoption agency which has found loving homes for over 200 children in metro Phoenix since 2001, invites the public to a free information meeting on opportunities to adopt from well-established programs in Russia, China, India and Guatemala. Meet families who adopted kids To register, call Susan at 480-832-4428 or e-mail Elizabeth at liz@ifservices.org.

Apr 3 & 4 – Mon & Tue – "Beyond Flight" : Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

Annual Conference at the Black Canyon Conference Center: 9440 N. 25th Ave (at Dunlap), Phoenix, AZ. — An opportunity for refugees, refugee service organizations and members of the general public to learn and share about the changing dynamics of refugee resettlement, and best practices that are helping refugees to successfully transition to life in Arizona. Program:

Jeanne A. Butterfield, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, will speak about immigration reform, cutting immigration resources, and providing legal services.
Mark Franken, executive director of the Migration and Refugee Services division of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), will be speaking on "Partnering to Support a Humane and Robust US Refugee Resettlement Program," as well as "The Underutilization of Refugee Resettlement as a Tool of Protection."
3 Roundtables and 26 Breakout sessions (5 tracks): Education, Employment, Health, MAA Development, Refugee Services and Trafficking.

Apr 8 – Sat – 1 pm – Germans from Russia Meeting
AZ Sun Chapter at the Glendale Foothills Library, 19055 N 57th Avenue (1/4 mile north of Union Hills Drive), Glendale, AZ . — There will be some light refreshments (not a meal).

Speaker: Mr. Ed Babitzke will present a workshop on tips of German-Russian genealogy and research.

If you are on the mailing list, be sure to look at the label and if you are NOT a current 2005 member, be sure to pay at the meeting. If you are not on the Newsletter mailing list we would love to have you join our organization. National dues are $50 and local dues are $10. E-mail: Larry Haas

Apr 8-29 – Sat – 9-11 am – Stay Healthy and Happy in Life
4 Saturday morning classes by Russian Dr. Saida Isabekova at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Pecos Campus, 2626 E. Pecos Rd., Room B160 (Click on brown building "B" to see room map.)

Stay Healthy and Happy in Life (p.13 of Spring 2006 Non-Credit class Schedule)
Spring 2006 Non-Credit Class: NC 500 9587 — Fee $39 — S. Isabekova — Saturday
You can be register online at www.cgc.edu/cont_ed or call 480.732.7320
See much more information.

Apr 15 – Sat – 9 pm – 2 am – Tucson: Русская Дискотека
Russkaia Diskoteka в Midway Business Park, 4500 E. Speedway #19 (1 block west of Swan), Tucson — Vhod (admission) $ 5 — тел. (520) 512-0206 — www.djtolik.com : playing today's Russian hits — Остальное вы знаете, все как обычно :o)) — просто приходите потанцевать...

Apr 22 – Sat – 9 am to 1 pm – UA Tucson: Arizona AATSEEL Conference
Arizona Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages — Manuel Pacheco Integrated Learning Center, Room 130 (University Blvd. at Vine Ave. West of "Old Main", across Main Mall), University of Arizona, Tucson — A variety of topics on Slavic literature, linguistics, and culture. Contact Meghan Murphy-Lee (phone 520-626-1404) — Program to be posted.

Time	Program
9:00- 9:30	Refreshments
9:30-10:15	Play: “The Bear” by Anton Chekhov Performed by Suzanne Stringfield, Justin Hines and Kenneth Cargill. Directed by Roza Simkovich.
10:15-10:40	Dobro Slovo Initiations (the Slavic honor society)
10:40-11:00	Dorothy Massalsky, University of Arizona “Restoring Voice, Securing Self-Identity: Russian Fine Arts in the Classroom.”
11:00-11:20	Lee Croft and Shamella Tribble, Arizona State University "Russians and Rapa Nui Hieroglyphics."
11:20-11:40	Natalya Samokhina, University of Arizona "Vibrants in Russian: Taps or Trills?"
11:40-12:00	Elaine Enriquez, University of Arizona “Culture or Corruption?: Motivations and Mechanisms of Informal Payments for Education in Kazakhstan.”
12:00-12:20	Olga Butyrskaya, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia "The Sociocultural Component of the Content of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language.”
12:20-12:40	Jonathan Rigg, University of Arizona “Spatial Constructions and Ideology in Early St. Petersburg.”
12:40-1:00	Discussion of October meeting.

Apr 23 – Sun – Orthodox Easter / Православная Пасха
Celebrated with church attendance, incense, and traditional foods such as cirniky and bliny. People great each other with “Khristos voskres” (Christ is risen), to which the reply is “Voistine voskres” (Truly risen).

May 1 – Mon – Russian Holiday: Spring and Labor Day

May — all month — Images in My Mind
May 5 — Fri — 6 to 9 pm — "First Fridays"
May 11 — Thur — 6 to 9 pm — "Meet the Artist"
ASU Downtown Center Mercado Galleria, 502 East Monroe St (2nd floor), Downtown Phoenix. — Map and directions — Elena's Art on display, Elena Thornton phone: 602-263-5373, is fromMoldova. — See her Current Exhibits: Vintage Market, Biltmore Fashion Park, 2442 East Camelback Rd., Phoenix (602-955-4444); Scottsdale Design Center, 15125 N. Hayden Rd. Suite 111, Scottsdale (480-998-4875) — An exhibit of watercolors and acrylics by Elena Thornton, a poet and painter from Phoenix but born in Moldova. The artist says she has been inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell

May 3 – Wed – 8 pm – Rachmaninoff Rocks
Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave., Tucson — Generals, lock up your daughters! The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its Sweet 77th tomorrow. And the guest of honor is the dopest pimp in the hood: the late Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Watch him spin some sexy beats. — Tickets: $15.75 to $43.

May 9 – Tue – Russian Holiday: Victory Day
The President of Russia sends congratulatory letters to all the veterans. There are parades, feasts, presents and flowers to give thanks to the people who fought for the defense of Russia. In all the cities there are meetings in which a leader or the mayor of the city gives speeches about the achievement of people in the war and veterans tell about their adventures in the war. Also see: "Women, War and Memory"

May 14 — Sun — 12:05 am to 2:05 pm — TV Channel 5 Movie: The Taxman
Late-night Saturday (Sunday Morning) — Action/Drama, Rated R, English with some Russian, 1999 — A New York State Tax Investigator infiltrates the Russian immigrant community in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. He teams up with an eager cop to pursue a series of bloody murders and a multi-million dollar gasoline tax fraud scam by gas stations and the American-Russian Mafia.

May 18 – Thur – 9 to 11 pm – TV PBS Channel 8 – Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great was an obscure German princess who became perhaps the most influential ruler in Russian history This 14-year-old Prussian-born Sophie Fredericke Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst was summoned by Empress Elizabeth to marry her idiot nephew Peter III. That never quite worked out because Peter was an idiot. She ruled for 34-years bringing enlightenment in education, medicine, arts and culture, and using her military might to conquer territory. She's been the subject of debate, controversy, admiration and contempt, as well as wild and unfounded rumors about her personal life, but the real story of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, is far more compelling than any fiction.

May 24 – Wed – 9 to 10 pm – TV PBS Channel 8 – Frontline: “Sex Slaves”
May 25 – Thur –12:30 to 2:30 am
Lots of Russan language dialoge — “Sex Slaves” is a disturbing episode focusing (with a hidden camera) on the trafficking of women for prostitution in Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey; and one man's search for his wife, who was sold by an acquaintance. —- How five women from the struggling countries of Eastern Europe were tricked into sexual slavery, beaten by traffickers and pimps, forced to work to turn a profit -- and finally escaped. Plus, a convicted Ukrainian sex trafficker talks about the multibillion dollar sex trade business, and why he sold an acquaintance for $1,000.

May 25 – Thur – 7:30 pm – Tamburitzans of Duquesne University
At: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W Congress, Downtown Tucson — Tickets $25 to $50 — For tickets: 520-547-3040, or 520-321-1000 (www.ticketmaster.com). Tickets also available at the Fox Theatre Box Office, 17 W Congress, Tucson, M-F, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Tickets also available at: The Folk Shop, 2525 N Campbell, AV, Tucson, AZ 85719
520-881-7147, Tues - F,10 AM to 6 PM, Sat 10:30 AM to 5 PM — Discount prices available for groups of 10 or more.— America's longest-running multicultural song and dance company (69 years!), the Duquesne University TAMBURITZANS is a unique ensemble of 40 talented young folk artists dedicated to the performance and preservation of the music, songs, and dances of Eastern Europe and neighboring folk cultures. Each number has its own orchestra, arranged by an expert in that region. Each number has its own costume (over 500 costumes used in the concert) Each dance has its own choreographer, usually from the country being represented. They sing in at least 12 European languages and dialects. The performers are full-time students who receive substantial scholarship awards from Duquesne University, with additional financial aid provided by Tamburitzans Scholarship Endowment Funds. They traveled from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. — Download the program (PDF file), which includes 19 dances and songs from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Macedonia Republic, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. This event is hosted by the Arizona Slavic Association.

May 26 – Fri – 7:30 pm – Tamburitzans of Duquesne University
At: Moon Valley High School Auditorium, 3625 W. Cactus Road, Phoenix — Tickets $25 from Diana Lubich 602-380-5268

Russia — Russkyl Prazdnovanie
“Today’s the Day for Celebration”, A playful village celebration sets the scene in Northern Russia.

Ukraine — Hopak
The national dance of Ukraine displays the ultimate celebration of the Ukrainian spirit.

June 2 — Fri — 8 pm — Агутин и Варум / Agutin and Varum Concert
Леонид Агутин и Анжелика Варум в новой концертной программе "Ты и Я" — New Russian pop concert music with Leonid Agutin and Anzhelika Barum: "You and Me" — The concert will be on
Thunderbird High School Auditorium, 1750 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix — Tickets $35 to $65 at both Russian grocery stores or call Ana 480-820-0285 — No Smoking in School Zone! ! — Блин...

June 12 – Mon – Russia's newest holiday: Russia Day
For the adoption in 1991 of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation, after Yeltsyn's victory over Communists' putch in 1993. Formerly Independence Day

Jun 28 — Wed — 7 pm — The Russian Debutante's Handbook
Free event at the Foothills Branch Library, Hummingbird Room, 19055 N. 57th Ave.(1/4 mile north of Union Hills, south of 101 Loop) Glendale — Diverse Verse, a multicultural book discussion group, discusses The Russian Debutante's Handbook, a novel by Gary Shetyngart. — More information phone Cyndee (623) 930-3843 — A Russian-born nebbish joins the mafiya and finds success swindling gullible young American tourists in Eastern Europe. Vladimir Girshkin, a likeable Russian immigrant, searches for love, a decent job, and a credible self-identity.

Aug 27 – Sun – 4pm – Tucson: Ukrainian Independence Day Concert

Arizona Ballroom Company, 5536 E. Grant Road (East of Craycroft, Safeway Plaza), Tucson — Sweets and refreshments will be served. — The Ukrainian Club will ask for donation $5 at the door, which will give you the opportunity to win some door prizes. — Bring your family and friends! — Program:

Speaker: Randy Graf, Republican Candidate for Congress
Barvinok Ukrainian Ensemble with Rusyny Dancers.

Sept 5 – Tues – 5-7 pm – TV Channel 12: Immigration Law Free
Watch Phoenix TV Channel 12 and get a phone number to speak with a volunteer lawyer about immigration for free for 2 hours. For more free legal advice about immigration contact: Friendly House (Immigration), 802 S. First Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003, Phone: 602-257-1870; or the Asylum Program of Southern Arizona (Immigration), 2221 E. Broadway, Ste. 211, Tucson, AZ 85719, Phone: 520-623-4555

Beginning Sept 10 – Sun – 11 am – Russian Children’s Center School Starts

For the development of children — Russian Language and Culture for 3 age groups, professional teachers, monthly fee. — The Russian Children’s Center “Golden Key” is glad to announce the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year. — Meet at the "Community Center" Room at 2701 W Belmont (same place as last year, south side of the Fire Station, on 27th Ave, 1/4 mile south of Glendale Ave, 1/4 mile west of I-17 Freeway). We will continue having Russian language and Drama classes for various age groups. — CONTACT: E-mail: Natallia: E-mail: NBor@cox.net, Phone: 602-315-7722 — Website: www. AZ Russian Kids.org

Sept 23 – Sat – 9 pm – Tucson: Russian Party
4500 E Speedway Blvd Tucson, AZ — Drive behind the European Market all the way back — If you have problems with directions call 520-331-1050 — e-mail: partyrussian@gmail.com — Vhod/To Enter $10

Sept 30 – Sat – 11:30 am to 3:30 pm – Tucson: Nina Tritenichenko Concert
17th Street Farmers' Market, 840 E 17TH Street, Tucson — International Music by Nina Tritenichenko, a professionally trained bayan accordion performer and conductor from Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine. Nina is the founder and artistic director of the Barvinok Ukrainian Ensemble. She also performs with the Arizona Balalaikas, teaches music to kids, and entertains at private gatherings.

Oct 5 – Thur – 8 pm – Kristina Orbakaite – Кристина Орбакайте
New show: "My Life", Моя жизнь — at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7380 E 2nd Street, Scottsdale. — Kristina is bringing her new show to 11 cities across the US and Canada. The performance will include her top hits and incredible choreography supported by 12 dancers. The princess of the Russian stage, Kristina Orbakaite has been recognized as one of the top selling artists by the World Music Awards and MTV Europe. For the very first time in Arizona, Kristina is bringing her highly successful tour to Scottsdale. Titled "My Life", the show will be an extravaganza of Kristina's top hits and breathtaking choreography. The tour was kicked off in Moscow and received rave reviews in Russia and Europe. Tickets: $50, $65, $70, $80. We have reserved a number of special seats for friends and supporters of the Russian community and culture in Arizona. In addition, VIP packages are offered on a limited basis for $150. The package includes preferred seating, a photo opportunity with the star, and an autographed memorabilia. To reserve tickets prior to general sale, please call 480-820-0285. For VIP packages and sponsorship opportunities, contact Brosseau PR at 602-317-0622 or by email at dmitri@brosseaupr.com — For Americans: Kristina is the daughter of the most famous contempory Russian female singer, Alla Pugacheva.

Oct 6, 7 – Fri, Sat – 4-9 PM – Tucson Slavic Festival
The 5th Annual Festival — “Celebrating the food, music, and dance of our Slavic heritage.” — St. Melany Byzantine Catholic Church, 1212 North Sahuara Ave (North of Speedway between Craycroft and Wilmot, behind Speedway Gold’s Gym), Tucson — $1,000 Grand Prize Raffle — Food, dance, music, folklore and crafts highlighted various Eastern cultures including the Carpatho-Rusyn and countries of Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Croatia. Slavic beers and homemade pyrohy, halupki, keilbasa, lamb and desserts will be available. Basil Bea’rs Play land and Kids Games — Admission: $3 adults, free for children 12 and under. — Contact: Nina Tritenichenko, Leslie Kurtak Director of Entertainment, Bernadette Maskarenic, or phone St Melany’s: 520-886-4225 — The first week in October is officially Tucson Slavic Festival week, and this event is held on the first weekend in October. — Do you perform music or dance from Eastern-Central Europe. Contact Leslie Kurtak 520-904-2211 (cell phone) or to get into the show. — Partial entertainment schedule:

Sat 6 PM — Barvinok Ensemble with Rusyny Dancers
Sat 8 PM — Arizona Balalaika Orchestra

Oct 7 – Sat – 8 pm - 2 am – Tucson: Russian Disco
"East Side Grill" Bar, 9403 E. Golf Links Rd, Tucson, — Privet vsem !!! Nachinaem osenn'iy sezon RUSSKIH DISKOTEK!!! — Vse hity proshedego leta i samoe novoe ot DJ TOLIKA! — Работает бар, бильярд и дискотека — $5 @ DJ's table — New MP3z this time:

Oct 14, 15 – Sat, Sun – All Day – Tucson Meet Yourself Festival
31rd annual festival, always on the second weekend of October in downtown El Presidio Plaza Park, 115 North Church Ave. (West of Pima County Courthouse, between the Old County Courthouse and City Hall), Tucson — A free event sponsored by the Cultural Exchange Council of Tucson, Inc. — Ethnic food sales, stage performances, and folk arts demonstrations. — Performances by:

Oct 14 – Sat – 9 am to Noon – Diabetes: Managing stress, fear, anxiety, negative feelings
Non-credit continuing education class by Dr. Saida B. Isabekova, D.Sc., Ph.D. held one day only at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, 2626 E. Pecos Rd. Room B160, Chandler.— Course Number: NC 500 9045, Fee: $34 — Stress and other negative feelings increase the level of glucose in blood. Students will learn several approaches and master some psychological techniques that will help in keeping glucose levels under the control. In addition to the scheduled class, each student will be invited to have an iris and sclera examination that is helpful to prevent possible complications of diabetes.— Iris and sclera examinations on October 12 or October 13. $30 is payable to the instructor. More information.

Oct 16 – Mon – 10 to 11 am – Newly Opened Russian Archives on World War II
Arizona State University, ASU Campus, Coor Hall, Room 4411 (north of Gammage Auditorium), Tempe — Professor Steve Miner, Director, Contemporary History Institute, History Department, Ohio University.

Oct 21 – Sat – 1 pm – Germans from Russia Oktoberfest
AZ Sun Chapter at the Leisure World, Recreation Center II Promenade, Pool side Patio, 908 South Power Road, Mesa — Pastor Ted Rath will present his work with the churches in Russia and countries of the Former Soviet Union. This is to include the financial difficulties as well as their difficulties with the Russian government. — The Chapter will provide brats (sausage), rolls, condiments and beverages, but you bring a salad or dessert to share and your own table service (fork, spoon, plate, napkins). A donation of $5 each will be expected from all. — If you plan to attend, you must contact Herb Babitzke at: 480-641-3711. This is a gated community so the only way you can get in is if you contact Herb and he gives your name to the gate keepers. —