RUSSIAN singing, dancing and music entertained an audience at an event to celebrate the country’s culture.

The evening included a Russian folk song ensemble and dancers performing to music such as Tchaikovsky, at Central Studio, based at Queen Mary’s College, in Cliddesden Road.

Olya Elliott, from Kempshott, has organised various Russian-themed concerts in the town, and decided that this one should take on the theme of a festival, with numerous acts performing different genres of music, including classical, retro, gypsy and folk.

The mother-of-two also performed at the event accompanied by a band.

The 43-year-old, who is vice-president of Basingstoke Multi-Cultural Forum, said: “It’s also nice to give something back to society and it’s nice for the Russian speaking community. Russian people are very cultural and they ache for things like this but to go to London is expensive and Russian people say it’s nice to bring it nearer to home. They like to bring their kids along.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller attended the event joining about 100 people in the audience.

Mrs Elliott said: “It was a beautiful evening. We were full and there were lots of different genres. It’s nice for the English community to expand their knowledge of Russian culture.”