Red Saloon with DJ Pixie on the 3rd of July 2004 in Dresden!
`cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life ... not really Russian, but maybe quite adequate is this song line, taken from a song by Richard Ashcroft, to describe the third Russkaya Diskotheka of the Baikalplan association, organised in the course of the 9th bridge festival..
The sweet thing was that on Saturday, the 3rd of July, approximately 500 to 600 curious people who dance willingly appeared under the Augustus bridge from 9 pm on, in order to indulge in the dance music from Russia and the wild east until the wee hours of the morning. The beer - cooled this time - was in demand like it was the previous year, the breakdown of the generator was kindly and impressively over-drummed, and also the summery eastern ambience of the evening equalled the one of the previous year.
But the obstacles and stones, with which the city of Dresden thwarted us, leave a slightly bitter taste in our mouths. Despite the fact that we had already registred the event in February, we didn't get the final permission until one day before. The obligations which had to be accomplished within this one day, like the sound control of an expert's report and the organisation of a paramedic tent with 12! paramedics, are just the tip of the iceberg, which the current procedure of the city represents in the face of a non-commercial cultural event organised by an exclusively honorary operating nonprofit association. It surely is a shame, but given the fact that we have to face with so much time and effort and that the city of Dresden seems to massivly restrain such dedication, we lack the motivation to organise this actually great event, which was embraced by many people, again.
Nevertheless we put our heart and soul in it and thank everybody who has helped with the organisation, but also those who have turned this evening into an unforgettable party due to their presence and their pleasure to dance and to celebrate. The proceeds of the beverage sale benefit our projects in the Lake Baikal region, especially the GBT and the hostel project. We haven't planned another Russkaya Diskotheka due to the destructive attitude of the city of Dresden, unless we are invited in the course of a big event and don't have to grapple with the municipality. But we have compiled a photo gallery nevertheless!!
