Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990 TAG: 9007100544
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JACQUELINE JAMES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
She wore a bright orange button imprinted with the peace symbol on her white T-shirt and a bandana wrapped around her short jean skirt. Her earrings were big hoops the shape of the peace symbol.
Penzenskaya is not an American teen-ager, she is one of 15 Soviet students visiting America for a monthlong tour with the Roanoke chapter of Peace Child as host.
Their visit marks the first international tour sponsored by the Roanoke chapter, although the chapter has sent area students to Poland and the Soviet Union.
"It's wonderful - labor of love finally being realized. We worked for two years to make this happen. We wanted it last summer but it takes time to pull together," said Mary Best-Bova, artistic director for Peace Child in Roanoke.
Peace Child, headquartered in Fairfax, was founded in 1982. The organization promotes global and local cooperation through performing arts. The students who participate are between the ages of 12 and 18 years old.
The non-profit organization has arranged tours for students in countries like Japan, Costa Rica and the Soviet Union.
Penzenskaya and the other students looked at home as they sat on the lawn in front of Yonce Hall at Roanoke College singing a Soviet song.
The students will be staying at Roanoke College during their visit in the Roanoke Valley. Before going home they will visit Charlottesville and Charlotte,N. C.
Fifteen American students will join the Soviet students in performing a play called "Peace Child," which allows the students to demonstrate through music and dance their hopes for global survival and their quest for a peaceful future.
The theme for this year's performance is prejudice. Organizers say that since nuclear war now seems less of a threat, it's time to focus on individual attitudes.
"This program, Peace Child, helps because we see children and Americans and see that they are as we are. We will tell Soviets this and it will help with peace relations," Penzenskaya said through a translator.
All of the students speak English, but required some help from the translators.
The Soviet students' trip cost $30,000 and was paid for by the Association of International Economic Cooperation and Peace Fund, both organizations based in the Soviet Union.
"We felt it was important for the children to connect and establish good relations. A better tomorrow will be born through the connections they establish," Igor Chichikov said through a translator. Chichikov works for the Association of International Economic Cooperation.
Chichikov said this is his first visit to the United States, and the warm reception he received has erased some pre-conceived notions that he had about America.
"In the past year, stereotypes have disappeared. Two great countries that have so much in common can't live without contact. They need to have friendly relations," Chichikov said.
Performances will be held at Virginia Western Community College on July 21st at 8 p.m. and on July 22 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. For ticket information, contact Arts Council of Roanoke Valley at 342-5790 or Peace Child at 343-7244.
by CNB