The Gala Ballet at Astana Opera last weekend was a great success. The guests of the evening were the participants and organizers of the Super Azhe social project. The rich concert program created by the artistic director of the Astana Opera Ballet Company Altynai Asylmuratova, as well as the technique and artistry of the dancers of the capital’s ballet company delighted the grandmothers.
“We would like to thank the general management of the opera house for the invitation to Astana Opera and the interest in our project, which dates back to 2018. The Super Age project is an original experiment to involve grandmothers in an active social environment, a test for adaptation to life in retirement. Today, grandmothers do not have to stay at home, they can show their talents, perform onstage. The essence of our project-competition is to strengthen the role of family and raise its status in the socio-cultural public space, destroy established stereotypes and show people that life after 60 can be bright and provide a rich palette of emotions,” Valentina Tolmacheva, the organizer of the project, says.
In turn, Astana Opera’s deputy director Aizhan Kurmangaliyeva emphasized that it is very important for the opera house to support such initiatives, which enable all generations to actively participate in the social and cultural life of the country. “It is great that the project is aimed at strengthening the connection between generations, preserving our national zest and acquainting the younger generation with traditions,” the deputy director noted.
Together with Valentina Tolmacheva, the author and ideological inspirer of the Super Azhe project-competition, Aliya Raimberdiyeva and Nazken Zhirentayeva are also working on it. The project-competition will be held in anticipation of the International Women’s Day with the support of the Akimat of the Saryarka district. The members of the jury, which consists of independent experts in the field of culture and art, will evaluate the performance of the participating grandmothers on a 10-point system. Three rounds of the competition include the following stages: a calling card “Beloved Grandmother”: members of the contestant’s family (children, grandchildren) must talk about their family and family traditions, about their grandmother and her hobbies in a video presentation. At the stage “Finger Licking Good”, the participants demonstrate their culinary talents. The stage “Chimes of Talents” is a creative competition, and the final stage “Let There Be a Ball” is the final defile in evening gowns. The winner of the competition is the participant with the most points. She is awarded the title of Super Age 2023. All grandmothers are awarded diplomas for participation in the competition and memorable gifts. And the holder of the Super Age 2023 title receives an additional prize.
Valentina Tolmacheva has successfully implemented and organized many competitions and social projects for disabled children throughout the country. She is also a painter, and her paintings adorn the walls of orphanages not only in Kazakhstan, but also in Thailand and other countries. Once she was engaged in rhythmic gymnastics, she was always a creative person, but fate decreed that now Valentina Tolmacheva is a wheelchair user. She did not allow any difficulties break her, found the strength to go further towards her goal – to help people and bring good to this world.