Articles by Lyazzat Shatayeva

ASTANA – Legendary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich is back at the Astana Opera. “The Nutcracker” is the maestro’s third ballet staged at the theatre, along with immensely popular “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Spartacus.” He will turn 90 on Jan. 2 and to mark the occasion presented a new production of the timeless classic, running Dec. 25-Jan.…

ASTANA – The Saryarka Short Film Festival introduced the works of young Kazakh filmmakers to a wider audience. Festival screenings were held Dec. 18 at the capital’s KazMedia Centre. The mission of the Saryarka Short Film Festival is to support young filmmakers, boost the country’s film industry development and become a networking platform for creative…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is developing new approaches to assessing and reporting mineral resources and reserves to ensure transparency, efficiency and new investments in the commodities sector. The large-scale reform was initiated in 2013, involving a variety of stakeholders and government agencies in the discussion. The new legislation will create a framework aimed at boosting mineral…

ASTANA – In the past two decades, Kazakhstan has seen a revival of its traditions, customs, art forms and crafts amid its efforts to restore its history, cultural heritage and national identity. The centuries-long art of jewellery making has naturally evolved. Jewellery making occupies a special place in the history of Kazakh culture. The art…

ASTANA – The captivating Argentine tango is stealing the hearts of social dancers, offering an excellent alternative to traditional ways of socialising during the capital’s long, freezing winters. The history of the tango is fascinating and complex. The sensual dance originated approximately 150 years ago in the lower-class districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Its…

ASTANA – Astana Opera has enriched its repertoire with yet another classical production. The ballet troupe premiered “Don Quixote” filled with Spanish charm, fervour and humour Nov. 25, attracting a full house and mesmerizing the audience. The ballet is based on episodes taken from the famous novel “Don Quixote de la Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes. It was…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan has joined the global women’s entrepreneurship support initiative, holding its first Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) on Nov. 19. The nation joined 144 countries and 110 universities to celebrate the work of women entrepreneurs. The first WED event was held in 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, with additional…

SAN FRANCISCO – TechWomen brings emerging women leaders together to help them excel in technology and build solutions to challenges facing their communities. Entrepreneurship was once considered a man’s domain, and technology entrepreneurship is one of the few fields that remains largely male-dominated. TechWomen, a professional mentorship and exchange programme, was launched in 2010 to…

LAS VEGAS – Kazakh stuntman Damir Mouzdybaev is starring in Le Rêve, the world’s largest aquatic extravaganza voted “Best Production Show” in the city for six consecutive years. Enchanting, mesmerising, exciting, fantastic, mysterious are some of the most common reactions to Le Rêve. The production is a combination of acting, dancing, acrobatics, stunts and motion…

How do governments encourage creativity to promote innovation-oriented policies? How do businesses advance in technology-driven economies? These questions are frequently asked by Kazakhstan’s private and public sector professionals in the aftermath of the major plunge in oil prices and amid rising economic challenges. Traditionally, media and entertainment is an industry that stands at the forefront…

ASTANA – The Kazakh capital hosted another Astana Economic Forum, drawing the world’s attention and bringing together influential speakers from Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The 2015 Astana Economic Forum, which completed its work May 22, was attended by more than 3,000 delegates, including world’s leading politicians, international experts in economics, Nobel laureates, heads of…

ASTANA – It has never been easy to find live jazz in the Kazakh capital, but with the launch of the Ubuntu Art Club monthly jazz nights, residents may soon witness high-quality, creative music being made locally. The city offers little musical adventure and is not exactly the place for big jazz lovers. The harsh…

ASTANA – Plenty of ready-to-wear designer apparel for autumn-winter 2015/16 was seen on the catwalk at Kazakhstan Fashion Week (KFW). Shows were held in Almaty on April 15-17 and Astana on April 24-25. Kazakhstan Fashion Week, traditionally organised by the Four Seasons Group, continues to bring fresh and bold fashion ideas to otherwise reserved Astana. …

ASTANA – Astana will host the fifth annual Kazakhstan International Occupational Safety and Health (KIOSH) Conference on April 28–29. KIOSH aims at reducing the rate of injuries and accidents at workplaces, lowering the risk of accidents in hazardous industrial facilities, minimising environmental damage and increasing labour productivity. KIOSH 2015 will be held at Astana’s Korme…

ASTANA – More than 70 blue-collar workers from 15 regions of the country gathered in Astana April 9-11 to show their skills in welding, IT management, catering, hairdressing, plastering, drywall, bricklaying, plumbing and heating as part of Kazakhstan’s WorldSkills National Championship. The championship was organised by Kasipkor Holding and featured 18- to 22-year-old workers at…

ALMATY – As Kazakhstan marks the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate, Kazakhfilm is preparing to start filming a new historical drama series titled “Kazakh Yeli.”   “The project has been under development for quite a long time. There have been ongoing talks on the need to shoot this type of historical work. As we…

ASTANA – Theatre lovers are swinging from the chandeliers as the amateur musical theatre Attrakcion showcases its interpretation of “Chicago,” Broadway’s satirical and sassy musical. Performances will run until March 21. The public’s growing interest in musicals inspired the troupe to produce larger shows this season. The youth theatre secured its bite of the cherry…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to carry out 33 comprehensive reform projects in certain institutions and sectors of the economy with the help of international financial institutions. These lofty goals were set as part of the country’s efforts to improve access to infrastructure, strengthen the financial sector and support the diversification and competitiveness of its economy.…

Almagul Menlibayeva, famous contemporary artist from Kazakhstan, whose artwork focuses on the history and cultures of Central Asia, will be taking part in one of the oldest and most significant international contemporary art events of the year, the Venice Biennale. The Venice Biennale, the major contemporary art exhibition with its 120-year-old history, incredible range of…