Russian Folk Star Babushkas Dance Next to Humanoid Robots at SPIEF

The folk ensemble Buranovskiye Babushki performed alongside a humanoid robot named Matilda during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), creating one of the event's most unusual and memorable moments. Forum organizers introduced two robots to the members of the ensemble during the event. After learning that one of the machines was named Matilda, the performers invited their mechanical companion to dance with them. Robot Matilda Joins the Folk Ensemble The robot accepted the invitation, and the spontaneous performance quickly attracted attention from forum participants. The encounter combined traditional Russian folk culture with modern technology, reflecting one of the themes frequently discussed at SPIEF — the interaction between innovation and society.