«Vivat-2025»: KBSU Selects Student of the Year to a Soundtrack of the 2000s

On International Students’ Day, the «Vivat, Student!» competition was held at KBSU. The theme of the year was MTV 2000. To choose the Student of the Year, the Zoom generation immersed themselves in the era of cable TV, low-rise jeans, and pop culture before social media. We tell you how KBSU’s main creative battle went.

On Monday, the cinema and concert hall of KBSU was as noisy as a Friday. Neon Latin letters at the entrance transport viewers back to the 2000s, when three symbols—MTV—shaped tastes, set moods, and set trends. Amid news of the closure of an entire line of branded channels, the theme «Vivat, Student!» It feels like a farewell to an era and a declaration of love.

Six contestants await backstage at the start of the show: Emilia Darsidze, Disana Apikova, Imran Zhashuev, Timral Keshtov, Saida Bitokova, and Kaira Khezeva. The contestants are preparing for the creative section and performances in the style of the music awards nominations.

Creativity Nomination: Choreography, Conceptual Design, Style

«Vivat, Student!» is a traditional KBSU competition aimed at identifying and supporting talent. Participants demonstrate their skills in music, choreography, acting, and humor. The organizers prepared for the show in two stages: first, they developed the idea in detail, and then rehearsed the performances and stage design. This time, the concept was tailored to the theme. MTV and the aesthetics of the 2000s became a «golden mean» for participants of all ages, notes Sultan Kishev, Chairman of the KBSU Student Council:

We chose a theme where younger students could compete with older students, as MTV is recognizable to everyone. The judges looked for consistency with the theme, execution of the overall concept, and the creative component of the routines. We weren’t limited to a specific genre; each participant could choose their own direction and pursue it.

The movement began with the MTV Awards nominations. Two contestants excelled in choreography. Timral Keshtov, winner of «Vivat, Student!», emphasized scenography and dramaturgy, creating a routine based on the gothic precepts of Lady Gaga, the «mother of monsters»—an artist who became a bridge between underground aesthetics and mainstream pop music.

I decided to participate in «Vivat, Student!» because I wanted to try my hand at such a major event. I started dancing at university and I’m very glad I did. I prepared hard almost every day. To win, it’s important to have a good idea, be confident, and show your best on stage. When the results were announced, I felt a mixture of relief and devastation that it was all over—it was amazing, sometimes challenging, but very memorable.

Disana Apikova, who won the Audience Choice Award, began her performance with a cool and impressive dance. The culmination of the number was an intense choreographic duel, reminiscent of famous cinematic battles. The results of the voting, which took place right in the audience, were determined by the audience themselves.

I felt a great response from the audience. I’m pleased that my performance was remembered by many of the students who later voted for me. My interest in creativity began in the first grade. The catalyst was dance classes, which later blossomed into a deep love for the stage. The organizers and participants are incredibly cool. I didn’t feel any intense competition, just a shared desire to make «Vivat, Student 2025» the best.

Music Category: From Mainstream to Indie and Underground

In the music categories, the contestants presented numbers that could be called tributes to their favorite artists.

Saida Bitokova transformed into a famous pop star of the 2000s, recreating the image of the most popular student from American films.

Imran Zhashuev drew on the work of former stars of the youth channel, starting with a fiery dance hit and then shifting the mood to a more lyrical, performing a heartfelt composition accompanied by guitar. This transition from mainstream to more profound music reflected the two main aspects of the most popular music channel of that era.

Emilia Darsidze also prepared a musical number and transformed herself into a 2000s diva. Her performance included songs about the heartbreak of love and obsessive attention to celebrities, characteristic of 2000s culture.

Kaira Khezeva moved from musical numbers to a parody of a popular show. In her humorous sketch, the student blended elements of reality television, street culture, and jokes. Her irony on the genre resulted in the phrase that appeared on screen: «Pimp up not only your bike, but also your mood.»

Improvisation Category: Communication, Resourcefulness, Humor

In the improvisation section, the participants interacted with the hosts and actively engaged with the audience. Anime, humor, and video games—the students discussed popular topics in the format of evening shows and vlogs. Before the results were announced, the finalists performed a medley of songs together.