English
РусскийFor the first time in history there was a Russian Princess on Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC
April 24, 2010 - 13:32
An annual National Cherry Blossom Festival has been celebrated in the U. S. Capital since 1935. This tradition began to commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.
From that first gift only some trees remain, and Japanese have given saplings on several other occasions. Also, Americans sent to Japan cutting from their trees when they required there after flooding. Celebration of the festival was suspended during the World War II when Japan was at war against the USA but soon after the war the tradition was renewed. Now about one million tourists from every corner of the U. S. and from other countries visit this most grandiose and widely celebrated event.
In 2010 the festival took place as usual during two-weeks, from March, 29th to April, 11th. More than 200 international performances and 100 special events, including concerts, exhibitions, and sports competitions, took place on the main stage at the Washington Monument and on the National Mall.
Cherry Blossom Princess Program started in 1948. Prior to the beginning of the festival young women (princesses) from each US state and US territories have been selected for their academic successes and achievements, extraordinary talents, their contribution to public and their interest to world politics. Each candidate has to fit certain requirements. They must be between the ages of 20 and 25 years, have to have finished their school education, never been married and have no children. The same requirements have been set for representatives from other countries — selected foreign princesses. It helps to make more contacts at festival in order to make better communications between the different countries, sharing their culture and history. In the end of Festival one of princesses becomes the U. S. Cherry Blossom Queen. The Embassy of Japan plays a key role in celebrating and their Queen (Japanese Cherry Blossom Queen) represents them. All princesses participate in a number of official actions of the festival such as the Lantern Lighting Ceremony, Princess Luncheon, Congressional Reception, Grand Ball/Banquet, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, where the representatives carry a flag of their state or country.
Russians have participated in the Cherry Blossom Princess Program for the past two years. 2009 marked a big achievement we all can be proud of. “The Princess Luncheon and Russian Culture Fashion Show by Russian-born artist and set-designer Eugenia Luzhina-Salazar with the original music by Serge Khrichenko”—was included in the official program of festival. The Russian costume show “Passion Runway”, took place on March 31st, 2009 during the Princess Luncheon. The public was amazed by the forty unique costumes presented, created by Eugenia Luzhina-Salazar using Russian national elements. The music for the show with a Russian flavor had been masterly written and played by composer Sergey Khrichenko, who specially created it for this show. This music organically fits the artist's vision creating a special holiday atmosphere. It was all so beautiful and symbolic that Eugenia received an invitation to participate in the festival in the future. In a year the show of her updated and expanded costume collection successfully took place on April 7th, 2010 on a Sylvan Theater stage at the Washington Monument. Preceding this show Eugenia received a personal invitation from Cherry Blossom Princess organizers who liked the show of her costume collection that took place earlier at the Russian Cultural Centre.
Eugenia Luzhina's costume collection on a Sylvan Theater stage at the Washington Monument. Photo by Alexandra Fomicheva.
Cherry Blossom Costumes by Eugenia Luzhina. Photo by Dennis Lukonin
Eugenia Luzhina-Salasar's Costume Theater and Serge Khrichenko's performance at National Cherry Blossom Festival 2010. Appril 7, 2010
Back in 2009 organizers of the Cherry Blossom Princess were so fascinated by the beauty of Russian models representing Eugenia Luzhina's costumes that they asked her to recommend a representative of Russia for participation in 2009 Princess Program. Among the nominees there was Kristina Bordyugova. She could accept this offer only for 2010 festival. So, due to pioneering efforts of Eugenia Luzhina at The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Christina became the 2010 Russian princess. She was selected to represent the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the U. S. at Cherry Blossom Princess events since she fits all official requirements:
— young (22 years old);
— educated (studied art history at Hunter College — University in New York City, continues study at college in Maryland);
— has a number of professional achievements (being engaged in ballroom dance from the age of eight years, she reached the final of National ballroom dance competition in the U. S., a quarter-final of the World Championship Blackpool that took place in England. She participated also in many other ballroom dance competitions in the U. S. and other countries);
— actively participates in the public life of the Russian community (dances herself and together with her partner, her students participate in charity events organized by the American Association of Russian Language, Culture and Education (AARCE), acts in theater CapitalKapustnik performances, participates in Russian costume shows, supports the program of teaching of children to Russian, organize by company RULIST)
— has the title “Miss Russian Beauty USA 2009” which was received, after competing with other most worthy contenders (The first stage of the contest was organized in February, 2009 by the American Association of Russian Language, Culture and Education together with the newspaper “The Russian America”. The applications of many candidates were looked through for such requirements as good appearance, education, occupation, hobbies, participation in a social life, and the ability to write an interesting essay on the theme: “How I can be useful to Russia”. In the final round of the contest organized by “Russian Washington” — RussianDC.com that took place on April 4th, 2009 at the Russian Cultural Centre, there were 8 beautiful young ladies competing in self-presentation, swimsuits and evening dresses contests, and answering questions of the jury);
— teaches children ballroom dancing at the Russian school “Scarlet Sails” and others dance studios of Greater Washington;
— a professional model for Boss Models agency (New York Сity);
— fluent in English, studies French, likes drawing and mountain skiing.
Before The Ring of Fortune at Grand Ball. Third from the right - Kristina Bordyugova. Photo by Sergey Sokolov.
The Program of Cherry Blossom Princess ran from April, 4th till April, 10th, 2010 and Kristina Bordyugova took an active part in it. All princesses were very busy. Every day of that week was booked and each minute was occupied. On Sunday, April, 4th — the first day of the program there was a reception where princesses of last year passed their charge to the princesses of the current year. Later in the afternoon they took part in the Lantern Lighting Ceremony — a very important event of festival.
On April, 6th princesses participated in the Princess Luncheon that took place in the Fort Myer Club. In the evening their attention turned to the presentation of beautiful tea ceremony in Residence of the Japan Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki followed by a sushi dinner and they got the opportunity to meet the Ambassador in person.
On the morning on April, 7th on the Princesses schedule was the White House visit. In the evening was the Congressional Cherry Blossom Reception where were the Ambassador of Japan with his wife, the U. S. Cherry Blossom Queen, the Japan Cherry Blossom Queen and other guests of honor. Princesses from the U. S. states and territories and princesses from the foreign countries represented their ex-court. Along with Russian Princess Christina there were representatives from Japan, Bahrain, Lithuania and Thailand. Vyacheslav Moshkalo, the Cultural Attache of Embassy of the Russian Federation gave Kristina Bordyugova his support. Also, Igor Baboshkin, the chairman of U. S. Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots, and the president of Multimedia Holding “Nash Dom” came especially from New York in order to support her.
Vyacheslav Moshkalo, the Cultural Attache of Embassy of the Russian Federation, Kristina Bordyugova, Igor Baboshkin, Japanese Cherry Blossom Queen, Luda Clark and Svetlana Sokolova. April, 7th 2010. Photo by Tatyana Floyd
On April, 9th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the center of Washington the traditional Grand Ball took place where on a fortune wheel one of princesses got a chance to become 2010 U. S. Cherry Blossom Queen and try on a huge ceremonial crown. The newly selected Queen by tradition goes on a 10-day tour to Japan. Also, for security reason, the Vice-Queen was also selected.
Our Russian Princess caused quite a stir on that ball — Kristina Bordyugova together with her partner Sergey Izumov danced the Viennese Waltz. Organizers of the festival and representatives of the Japanese Embassy specially invited them to the performance and they made it with pleasure at the beginning of evening. As a consequence, in his speech, the Ambassador of Japan, before opening ball by dance with the newly crown Queen, said: “I worry a little before the dancing that I should have taken some dance lessons from Kristina”. Such a fine gesture from the Ambassador means a lot.
Kristina Bordyugova and Sergey Izyumov dancing. April 3rd, 2009. Embassy of Russian Federation in Washington DC. Photo by Tatyana Floyd
On April, 10th Princesses closed a long column in The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade that took place on the main street of Washington where their representatives (basically, cadets — future naval officers) solemnly carried flags of their states. The honorable mission of carrying the Russian flag was assigned to Kristina's brother — Oleg Bordyugov (20 years old, studies in college in Maryland, plays hockey, works in NASA). This beautiful procession included improvisations, jokes, amusing costumes with a lot of participants and spectators, and also sponsors — it was possible to see their trademarks everywhere — on clothes, suits, toys and balloons.
All funds raised at the festival from different events are used for the charitable purposes. The group of support of each princess also had sponsors. They gave not only moral but material support as well. In particular they provided Kristina with the variety of outfits and dresses that princesses should wear and change several times a day as the etiquette required. The sponsors also paid required material expenses such as fee payments and the cost of the meal provided at the basic receptions.
The group supporting our Russian Princess Christina Bordyugova included members of her family, and also Svetlana Sokolova, the president of the American Association of Russian Language, Culture and Education; representatives of the Russian Embassy; Marina Davis, International Сlub DC; members of AARCE and other representatives of the Russian community.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival has ended. The Russian contribution to it was highly symbolical. We hope that this good and kind tradition that began with participation of our representatives will be continued for many years to come, strengthening the friendship of the people of Russia, Japan, USA and others countries.
The reporting has prepared by Luda Clark.
Translated to English by Evan Clark.
Photos by Tatiana Floyd, Dennis Lukonin, Alexandra Fomicheva, Sergey Sokolov, Jeffrey Clark.
You can view the photos in our Photo Gallery.
Olga Khrichenko came up with idea of Photo contest at RussianDC.com, giving the possibility to everyone to place the most interesting pictures have been taken during The Cherry Blossom Festival in this Picture Album.
To view more pictures of the the Congressional Cherry Blossom Princess Reception, please visit Tatyana Floyd Photo Album
© 2010 by Luda Clark and Russian Washington-Baltimore. All rights reserved
Also please read Olga Krichenko's articles
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