Zhatva: A Russian Harvest Ritual October 15, 2011

Internationally renowned women's vocal ensemble, Kitka, is pleased to join Russian House Kedry in a celebration of the harvest season. Their new collaboration, Zhatva (Russian for "Harvest"), is a family-friendly, participatory Russian autumn ritual taking place over three weekends in October in beautiful outdoor settings in the East Bay, South Bay, as well as Fort Ross Historic State Park in Jenner.

Founded by Russian immigrant traditional artists who had resettled in the Bay Area, Russian House Kedry is dedicated to preserving, developing and supporting Russian cultural traditions. The folk rituals of the harvest season will come alive as Kedry's vocal ensemble, Kostroma, sings ancient Slavic songs with Kitka intended to summon love, marriage, fertility, and agricultural bounty. Kitka and Kostroma will don museum-quality regional costumes, many hand-made by artisan-members of Kedry.

Kitka is an American women's vocal arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe. Kitka's commitment to presenting traditional song as a living and evolving expressive art form has led to adventuresome collaborations with some of the world's most exciting indigenous musicians and contemporary composers.

In addition to Kitka and Kostroma sharing the sonorities of Slavic traditional polyphony, Kedry's co-directors Maria Poletaeva and Nataly Marchuk will lead festival-goers in traditional Russian seasonal games, circle dances, handcraft-making, and foodways.

Originally settled by the Russian-American Company in 1812, Fort Ross will celebrate the apple harvest in particular. Apple-picking in Fort Ross's orchard starts at 10am and gives way in the afternoon to a variety of apple preparations, from juicing to baking. A full Zhatva performance by Kitka and Kedry will start at 1 pm. For more information, call (707) 847-4777 or visit fortrossstatepark.org.

Zhatva is supported, in part, by a grant from the Creative Work Fund.

Official Website: http://www.kitka.org