The Kalyna Festival of Ukrainian Dance celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend in Yorkton.
Adam Fetsch who had the idea for the event a decade ago, and remains one of the chairs, said he always felt a major Ukrainian dance event would be successful in the city.
"It should have been started 40 years ago, but nobody wanted to do it," he said, adding the first year, 2002, 40 clubs took part.
So Fetsch, who is not of Ukrainian heritage himself, decided to take it on. He presented the idea, and the volunteers stepped up to launch the festival.
"I knew what Yorkton could do," he said.
Fetsch said he felt the festival was a natural for the city.
"This is the heart of the Ukrainian community," he said, adding communities such as Willowbrook and Canora have come on-side with dance clubs in area communities being very supportive, providing a base for the festival.
Fetsch said in his mind there are several reasons the festival has proven so successful.
"Lots of hard work and an army of volunteers," said Fetsch when first asked what the secret to their success was.
Looking back that was one reason Fetsch took on organizing the first festival.
"I knew the people behind me were a lot of hard workers," he said, adding volunteers continue to keep the festival running smoothly.
The Anne Portnuff Theatre has also been integral, said Fetsch, calling the host facility "second-to-none" in terms of performing arts in the province.
Fetsch said it comes down to a collection of elements which have made the festival what it is today.
"All these things have made it as famous as it is," he said.
The reputation of the Kalyna Festival is now such that the event is the "biggest in North America," said Fetsch, attracting 1,000 dancers annually, ranging this year from three years of age to 81. This year 29 clubs took part covering an area of Saskatoon to Winnipeg. "We've had Americans come in the past," he added.
"And, 4-or-5,000 people go through the doors on the weekend."
Fetsch said this year some clubs were not able to attend because there simply were no hotel rooms for them available in the city. He said the tight hotel situation is one which is a limiting factor for an event like the festival.
With the big numbers, Fetsch said Yorkton benefits as a community, especially the busy community with hotel rooms, restaurant sales, and general shopping. As a result he said the community has in turn "been very supportive" of the dance festival.
It has been the widespread support which has ultimately helped the event cover costs such as facility rental and bringing judges from places such as Edmonton. Fetsch said that was critical.
"People were saying when we started it had to be monetarily viable," he said.
As successful as the festival has been in its first decade Fetsch said growth moving forward is unlikely. While they could likely attract more clubs and dancers, the current facility is used to capacity, and hotel rooms are not available.
In terms of the facility, Fetsch said they did try using two locations one year, but the logistics made it all but impossible.
However, Fetsch said the current format of the festival is proving successful, and he sees it continuing for years to come.
