Polina Smolova to represent Belarus at Eurovision-2006 with “Mama”

Polina Smolova will represent Belarus at the International Song Contest Eurovision-2006 in Athens, the Belarusian jury unanimously decided. Polina Smolova will sing a song “Mama” composed by Sergei Sukhomlin and with the lyrics by poet Andrei Kostyugov. She is expected to come on stage in a costume tailored by young Belarusian couturier Ivan Aiplatov accompanied by a well-known Belarusian dancing company Pops Foundation. On February 28 the young Belarusian intends to get down to serious rehearsals. This year over 70 applications for participation in Eurovision-2006 have come from all Belarus and abroad. The contest jury headed by conductor of the national Belarusian symphonic orchestra professor Mikhail Finberg had picked 15 young Belarusian artists for a live gala-concert which took place on February 10 on the First National TV-channel. The viewers selected three finalists. Elena Grishanova with “You Can't Stop This Dance" and the Lyavony band with "Come back" were Polina Smolova’s rivals for the ticket to Athens.