NLAO structure

Cultural center

When the Academy was just created and the construction was in progress the student community became actively involved in arts and creative activity. At first the “Art Dance” group directed by Oleg Gusarenko was created. He also became the first director of the Cultural Centre. The dance group has won many prizes in the dance tournaments and festivals in Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey, Italy, etc. The “Art Dance” group participates practically in all the concerts and cultural events of the Academy giving pleasure to the admirers of folk dancing.

A very bright phenomenon of the Academy’s cultural life is “TOUR DE FORCE” theatrical company directed by Natalya Knyazeva. The productions of this company comprise the synthesis of drama, pantomime and show.

The actors and the director make the audience think of such eternal values as kindness, love and beauty. The theatrical company has participated in international and national festivals. It has been awarded numerous diplomas and prizes. The company won Grand- prix “ Silver Boat” (Kostroma city, 1998), “Footlights – 1999”, “Footlights – 2002” and many others. Today more than 10 productions in different genres are on the repertoire of the theater.

It happened so that the first year-students realized that alongside academic pursuits they still had time to enjoy themselves and arranged the “De-jure” KVN-team. It immediately became the youngest finalist of the student KVN city tournament and eventually won the festival in Donetsk. It participated in the Sochi festival and Ukrainian KVN league competitions in Kyiv. The present team members try to maintain the glorious traditions. The KVN tournament among the faculties is organized annually. The “V.I.P.” team of the Civil and Economic Justice faculty shows excellent performance and participates in the all-Ukrainian KVN Cup. The amateur art activities have been successful owing to the support of President of the Academy Sergiy Kivalov. In 2002 the Cultural Centre was opened officially and started its social and recreational activities under the guidance of its Director Tetyana Titova. At that time new amateur groups appeared, such as the “Academy” vocal group. It has won prizes practically in all the contests and festivals: the “Fly, Doves” and “Student Spring” city musical festivals, “Songs in Military Uniform” festival and “Danko” international musical festival. Twice the “Academy” group has won Grand prix of the Hippocampus Ukrainian musical festival in Sudak. The group regularly participates in concerts and cultural events at the Academy.

A new “Alter Ego” dance group appeared, directed by Zhanna Antypova, a senior teacher of the Physical Training department. Its performance has been very successful, the group has won prizes at various dancing festivals.

Since the first years of the Academy’s existence some celebrations and festivals have became a tradition. The initiation ceremony for new students of Odessa National Academy of Law is staged as a grand theatrical show at the stadium.

To mark the lawyers’ professional holiday, the Academy welcomes the elite of the legal profession, the students and the teaching staff for nominating Lawyer of the year. The festivities take place in the assembly hall. Greetings and warm wishes are usually followed by the gala performance prepared by the talented students.

The happiest day for the students, teachers and administrative staff is the Academy anniversary day. It is usually a grand celebration in the very warm atmosphere. Usually the “Miss Academy” beauty contest takes place on this day. All the faculties delegate their nominees to take part in the competition. The contest is an incredible show, staged with splendour and creativity. The jury is headed by Academician S. Kivalov.

 Every participant dreams of winning the Crown, since the “Miss Academy” title is not just her personal victory, it is also the victory of the faculty which she represents at the contest. To become “Miss Academy” it is not enough to have good looks. The winner is expected to demonstrate high intellectual potential, and various talents. All the winners of the Miss Academy contests can boast of such qualities. Their names are: Victoria Shvydka, Yana Maslova, Tetyana Perkova, Olga Gilyova (the Civil and Economic Justice faculty), Hanna Dashkovska, (the Judicial-administrative faculty), Nina Dementyeva, Olena Sayevska, Olena Schur (faculty of International Legal Relations and Legal Journalism).

The “Miss Academy” beauty contest is a convincing proof that the most dazzling beauties can be found among the students of Odessa National Academy of Law. One of them is our former student Oleksandra Nikolayenko. Now she is a renowned Ukrainian beauty, a top-model, a TV-presenter and actress, the “Miss of the Universe” finalist and Miss Ukraine-2001”.

The Academy is concerned about the well-being of its staff and their families. New Year matinees for the children organized with love and care by the Cultural Centre.

Undoubtedly, every faculty tries to be the best in every respect. This competition is manifested during the days of the faculties, when the students do their best to realize their creative potential. The show in the most prestigious clubs of the city in combination with the beauty, optimism and individuality of the students create the festive atmosphere.

The Academy observes the Slavic traditions of our people, e.g. the Pancake week, the time for merrymaking and traditional pancakes. The students themselves organize these fests with the help of the Cultural Centre. The Graduation Ceremony is probably the most emotional day when everybody experiences mixed feelings of joy and sadness while saying farewell to student life.

The Academy maintains friendly relations with the students of the Law faculty of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. The meetings and joint concert programmes were organized both in Kyiv and Odessa. The art groups of the National University of Culture and Art headed by its Rector Mykhaylo Poplavskyy are also frequent guests at the Academy.

The Cultural Centre organizes regular concerts in Kriviy Rig, Simferopol, Mykolaiv and in other cities of Ukraine, in this way strengthening ties with other educational establishments.

Our amateur performers have represented the Academy at the “Modern Education in Ukraine” exhibition in Kyiv. The “White Sale” youth festival was first organized seven years ago on the initiative of the Cultural Centre and its Director Tetyana Titova and has been held regularly since then.

Every year in June dancing and singing groups and individual performers from all parts of Ukraine arrive at the Academy to take part in the festival. The “White Sale” festival welcomes more than 500 participants. The students meet the participants and organize city tours.

The students of the Academy, encouraged and supported by the Cultural Center, take an active part in the cultural life of the city. They are eager contestants for “Student Spring” and “Student Autumn” festivals and the Southern KVN league tournament (the Club of Merry and Quick-Witted).

The Cultural Center does not limit their activities to the students’ recreation and entertainment. The Centre organizes charity concerts for different age groups.

On May 9, the Victory Day, the Academy welcomes the war veterans – former inhabitants of the children’s village, which used to be located on the territory of the Academy. The traditional laying of wreaths at the Comintern monument is followed by the meeting and gala performance in the assembly hall. The veterans share the memories of their heroic deeds and listen to the war songs. In 2007 the Academy TV channel made a film “Students of the Academy sing wartime songs” which later was broadcast by other local TV channels.

 The Cultural Centre organizes charity concerts at the orphanages, hospitals, correctional institutions, military units, etc. The young artists are always welcomed with gratitude.

 During the recent years the Cultural Centre has become leader among the Odessa students’ clubs. Ten years of persistent work have transformed groups of individuals into the student community.

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