- Title: UKRAINE: Annual fire festival draws thousands to capital
- Date: 15th June 2010
- Summary: VARIOUS OF HUNGARIAN ARTIST LINDA FARKASH PERFORMING ON STAGE AUDIENCE WATCHING VARIOUS OF ARTISTS PERFORMING ON STAGE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WATCHING PERFORMANCE / TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI FIRE ARTIST, ASAF POIBOY, SAYING: "At first it was a bit scary, but after one or two burns you get used to it, and it's really.. now it's like..it's like my nature." VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS FROM UKRAINIAN FIRE THEATRE "PANTHERA" PERFORMING ON STAGE AUDIENCE CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) KIEV RESIDENT, LINA, SAYING: "I am full of feelings -- so picturesque, so interesting. They are all great and I am simply overwhelmed with emotion. This is cool. They are great." PERFORMER ON STAGE RUSSIAN PERFORMERS ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 30th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACXSX9XD7CFX809SW7SUI1RZYI
- Story Text: Thousands of spectators gathered in the Ukrainian capital on the weekend to enjoy a showcase of fire-based performances and installations at the annual Kiev Fire Fest.
More than 70 individual artists and group performers presented shows combining electro-pyrotechnics, music and other effects, creating eye-catching images for audience members to enjoy.
The festival featured performances by artists from Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Russia and Ukraine.
Organisers said the event is gaining popularity among both, participants and spectators.
"Why is our KFT, our Kiev Fire Festival, special?" asked Elena Pelimskaya, one of the organisers of the festival, on Sunday (June 13)
"The thing is that it's the only one in the world, as it gathers not only fire performers who can share their experiences, but audience members as well. Similar festivals have been organised abroad, but only to give a chance to artists and performers to meet and show what they managed to master during the past year. So they gather, meet each other, chat and then go back home. But here the audience members assess the artists' skills by applause and everything is so obvious. One can feel and hear everything immediately," Pelimskaya added.
Performers said they were completely engrossed in their fire art, which to some has become a central element in their life.
"At first it was a bit scary, but after one or two burns you get used to it, and it's really.. now it's like..it's like my nature," said Asaf Poiboy, a fire artist from Israel.
This year the festival attracted a much bigger audience than in previous years, indicating a rising popularity among spectators in Ukraine.
"I am full of feelings -- so picturesque, so interesting. They are all great and I am simply overwhelmed with emotion. This is cool. They are great," said Lina, a member of the audience.
The festival, which is in its fourth year, started on Saturday (June 12) and ended on Sunday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.