The Best of Moscow's Spasskaya Festival 2015

Sep. 14, 2015

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Over the centuries, millions of boots have marched and trudged across Red Square in celebration and in sorrow. But for one week a year, the square resonates to the sound of boots, shoes, horses' hoofs and even stilts dancing on the ancient cobblestones in the Spasskaya Bashnya International Military Music Festival.

This year 27 groups from 14 countries performed in the festival, which opened on City Day — Sept. 5 — and ended on Sunday night.

Countries with incredibly diverse traditions brought their forms of military song and dance to the festival, from the Belgian Royal Stiltwalkers to Ireland's Le Cheile Sa Cheol Massed Pipes and Drums, and from the Municipal Police Band of Rome to Pakistan's Armed Forces Band.

Several Russian performing groups strutted, sang and rode in the festival, including the Shady Glen School of Scottish Dance which has been twirling kilts since 2005.

See the Photo Gallery: Spasskaya Bashnya 2015: The Highlights

Thumbnail photo by: Maxim Shemetov / Reuters

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