The Russian ministry of labor and social security included The Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in the list of organizations where one can pass a non-military service. Now young men of a draft age can pass the non military service in the theatre as a ballet dancer, member of the orchestra or a stage crew.
“The theatre is very grateful to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and also to the Ministry of Defence for the assistance and the adoption of this document, which is very important for a productive artistic theatre life – said the executive director of NOVAT Vladimir Kekhman – earlier, the theatre experienced complications with ballet company recruitment. At the same time the annual service draft caused problems with producing the ballet repertoire, staging the new performances, also the touring.”
In the past year, the theatre management asked the minister of culture, Vladimir Medinsky to make the non military service available in the theatre. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defence endorsed initiative.
As a result of that, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection Maxim Topilin signed the decree, which includes NOVAT along with Mariinsky Opera House in the list of organizations providing the non military service for the young men. The list of occupations available for the non military service is the following: Ballet dancer, member of the orchestra, stage technician and stage installer.