ASTANA – The first Astana Kurdastary, or “Peer of the Capital,” city ball to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the city becoming the national capital was held in the Utemisov Palace of Schoolchildren on May 1.
Two students from Public School No. 60, Eldan Tleubergenov and Dana Smagul, were chosen as the king and queen of the ball. They will receive their titles formally on July 6.
Some 200 15–year-old students, including 50, who had qualified in contests held in the city’s schools, danced waltzes, mazurkas and polonaises at the event The girls wore white dresses. The boys wore tuxedos.
The main hall of the Palace of Schoolchildren was designed in the style of a 19th century ballroom with massive columns, glittering with chandeliers. Despite the urban landscape outside, the atmosphere indoors carried the participants and spectators back to the era of beautiful ladies and gallant gentlemen.
School No. 60 headmistress Elmira Sukhanberdieva, Gulzada Smailova, the head of the internal policy department of Astana’s Saryarka district akimat and Saltanat Ali, chairman of the Astana branch of the Zhas Otan Youth Movement of the ruling Nur Otan Party, all attended and Asima Bimenddina, head of the Astana municipal education department congratulated the participants.
“The ball is just fantastic,” School No. 1 student Zauresh Azhgaliyeva said. “It is the first ball in my life. Since childhood, I have been dreaming of it. It’s wonderful that such an event is taking place in our capital. Next year, I will again take part in it.”
The Gaziz Zhubanov State String Quartet of the Astana Philharmonic Orchestra provided the music.
