Maria Turantaeva

The mission of the Olonkho Theatre is to preserve and spread the heroic epic of the Yakut people, transfer this knowledge from generation to generation. Olonkhosuts — storytellers, performerы of the Yakut heroic epic, hold a special role in the theater. Speakers and teachers in Olonkho from different parts of our republic make up the older generation of the theater.

Maria is also a public assistant to Aitalina Adamova-Afanasyeva, the People’s Deputy of the State Assembly Il Tumen. As part of the working group, she worked on the draft law «On Culture» of Yakutia, which was adopted by the State Assembly of Il Tumen on June 24, 2013. Now, Maria is a public assistant to Feodosia Gabysheva, the People’s Deputy of the State Assembly Il Tumen, and is working on the draft «Law on the intangible cultural heritage of the peoples of Yakutia».

Founder and organizer of the public award «Alampa» in the field of culture and art. Since 2021, Deputy Chairman of the Public Organization of the Union of Theatrical Workers of Yakutia. Organizer of the cultural program of major regional events, including the Days of Culture and Art of Yakutia in Beijing (2015), Theatre Exhibition «The Way to the Olonkho Theatre» at the Central Theatre Museum in Moscow (2013) and others.

Coordinator of five international theatre internships at the Olonkho Theatre in France, Japan, China, Greece and India.

Maria is the head of the directorate of the «Spiritual potential of society in the innovative development of Yakutia» forum (2011). Since 2014, the head of the cultural program «Isyaha Olonkho» — the most important holiday in Yakutia, which is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice — June 21. The main purpose of the Issyakh Olonkho national holiday is to promote the epic heritage and preserve the national mentality and spirituality of the Sakha people. Since 2021, he has been the head of the Olonkho Theatre.

Location: Yakutsk, Russia