Choreographic school “Surprise”
Photo: Government of the Jewish Autonomous Region
February 26, 1937
The plenum of the Birsky district party committee (now Obluchensky) discussed the issue “On the state of defense work in the region and the tasks of the party organization.” Emphasizing the importance of defense work in the context of a deteriorating international situation, the plenum obliged party organizations to strengthen the military-patriotic education of workers and improve the work of voluntary military sports organizations.
February 26, 1942
The Bureau of the Regional Party Committee approved the initiative of the Komsomol organizations of the Birsky and Smidovichi districts to produce spare parts and tools for repairing tractors and agricultural machines.
The Komsomol organization of the Obluchye station unit produced nine sets of tools, and the Komsomol members of the Bira station produced 400 bushings for tractors and other spare parts.
Komsomol members of the In station and other settlements were actively involved in the search and production of spare parts.
February 26, 1975
Clippings from the newspaper “Birobidzhan Star”. Photo: Photo: Regional Library
The newspaper “Birobidzhan Star” (12+) reported that for the successes achieved in the All-Union Socialist Competition and the valor demonstrated in the implementation of national economic plans and obligations undertaken to increase the production and sale of agricultural and livestock products to the state in 1974, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded: the Order of Lenin to V.P. Tonkikh – the link state farm “Bidzhansky” Leninsky district, the Order of the October Revolution – two people, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor – 13, the “Badge of Honor” – 14, the Labor Glory of the III degree – 19 people, the medals “For Labor Valor” – 17, “For Labor Distinction” – 16 people.
February 26, 1981
For high results in the communist education of a worthy replacement of the working class and vocational training of youth, the bureau of the regional committee of the CPSU and the executive committee of the regional Council of People's Deputies awarded 11 workers of the regional economy the title of “Excellent Mentor”. Among them are A.F. Vorobyova, a worker in the cutting shop of the Birobidzhan shoe factory, T.P. Guloy, an assembler of stabilizers at the Birobidzhan Power Transformers Plant, A.A. Zhuravlev, the foreman of the tractor-field crew of the Bidzhan state farm in the Leninsky district, and G. Sh. Kruchenetsky, a turner at the Dalselmash plant.
February 26, 1938
On February 26, 1938, the regional newspapers “Birobidzhanskaya Zvezda” and “Birobidzhaner Stern” (12+) began to be published as two separate newspapers with different content.
February 26, 1991
Thematic picture. Photo: Photo: Regional Library
By the decision of the executive committee of the Council of People's Deputies of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the village. A branch of the regional local history museum has been opened in Amurzet.
Before this decision, the museum existed on a voluntary basis for six years. In 1984, the collection of necessary materials began, and in 1985 the grand opening of the museum took place, timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory.
Today the museum houses a life-size Cossack hut and a Jewish barracks, 25 permanent exhibitions, as well as temporary exhibitions. Thanks to responsive residents, the museum is constantly replenished with new exhibits that have long since outlived their usefulness.
February 26, 1997
The JAO Law No. 2-03 “On the administrative-territorial structure of the Jewish Autonomous Region” determined the composition of the region: five districts, two cities, 12 townships and 47 rural administrations. There are 66 administrative-territorial units in total.
February 26, 2002
Thematic illustration. Photo: Photo: Regional Library
A choreographic school was created on the basis of the exemplary dance theater “Surprise”. The Surprise Dance Theater was already 8 years old at the time the school opened, and it was directed by Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation Elena Antonova.
Today, classes at the school for students in grades 1-7 are conducted according to the pre-professional educational program “Choreographic Creativity”, which includes classical, folk stage, Russian, Jewish, modern dances, rhythm, conversations about choreographic art, listening to music and musical literacy, musical literature, preparation of concert numbers. Much attention is paid to staging choreographic numbers.
Every year, school students are invited to various creative festivals not only in Russian cities, but also in foreign countries.
The “Surprise” dance school is a laureate of the festivals of Jewish and Slavic culture in Birobidzhan (0+), Khabarovsk, Chita; International competitions and festivals.
In 2015, the Surprise team was given the honorary right to represent the Jewish Autonomous Region at the First Eastern Economic Forum (6+) in Vladivostok.
In 2019, the honored team of the Jewish Autonomous Region, the exemplary dance theater “Surprise”, represented our country at the International Folk Dance Festival on the Spanish island of Palma de Mallorca (6+). “Mallorka world folk festival” (6+) is one of the most prestigious European competitions. An invitation to participate in it was sent to the head of the Surprise dance theater, Elena Antonova, by the president of del Consell de Mallorca, Miguel Ensenuat Riutort.
The Surprise Dance Theater of the regional children's choreographic school of Birobidzhan was lucky enough to take part in a colorful procession-parade (6+) through the central streets of Mallorca at the opening of the festival. In addition, our dancers presented the folklore traditions of their country at seven national concerts at various venues, both in the capital of the island, Palma, and in its remote settlements.
In the 2020 academic year, the “Surprise” dance school took part in the International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage (6+) in Chengdu (PRC), the team became a laureate of the International Festival of Choreographic Art of the Asia-Pacific countries “Rhythms of the Planet” (6+) in Khabarovsk, and received a Golden Diploma of Laureate in the All-Russian review-competition of the National Prize for Children's and Youth Dance “The Rite of Spring” (6+) in Khabarovsk. Vladivostok.
In 2021, the Surprise dance school took part in the XXII Open International Competition of choreographers' works “Games of Imagination – 2021” (6+). The performance of “Surprise” caused a real sensation – the competition jury highly appreciated the professional performing level of the artists and awarded the group a prestigious award. In the nomination “Folk stylized dance”, the dance theater from the Jewish Autonomous Region received the title of 1st degree laureate and a winning cup for the performance of the choreographic suite “Lach Yerushalayim” (0+).
