The Canora Veselka Ukrainian Dance Club presented its 43rd annual concert at the Canora Composite School on April 9, in the jam packed school gym.
Some clubs may start losing energy and vitality after 43 years, but not this one, said information from the club. The dancers were obviously enjoying themselves, which brought out consistent bursts of spontaneous applause and encouragement from the enthusiastic audience. The authentic, brightly coloured Ukrainian costumes only added to the energy of the occasion.
In keeping with tradition, the concert opened with the Pryvit, which is the Ukrainian Welcome Dance. Dancers offered bread, salt and wheat to their guests, which represents a wish of health and prosperity.
The program explained the seven different dances performed during the concert, depicting various regions of the Ukraine. The dancers were dressed in authentic costumes for each region.
The Poltava represents the culture of the Ukrainian Kozaks, and their love of social dance. These dances are physically demanding for the boys, while the girls display grace and beauty in these technically demanding dances.
The Polissia is an area of the Ukraine below sea level, and therefore has very marshy soil. It’s not surprising that residents of this region are cattle farmers and fishermen. This fast paced dance incorporates high leg movements with repetitive tapping and stamping.
The Hutzul region is located high in the Carpathian Mountains, which means the people had to be adaptable due to the severe climate and limited living space. Hutzul dancers are lively and energetic, with quick stamping and intricate footwork, combined with swift vertical movements.
Also known as Zakarpattia, the Transcarpathian is a large area which alternates between foothills and fertile plains. The Transcarpathian dances are known for their large, sweeping movements. The moderately paced dances are characterized by the males clapping and slapping their boots and bodies. It is rhythmic and bouncy with distinct twisting motions.
The Bukovynian area is located in the transitional highland between Ukraine and Romania. The lively and energetic dances for this region are characterized by high stepping, intricate foot stamping combinations.
Volyn lies in north-western Ukraine, and is rich in tradition and culture. The dances and costumes from this region have been influenced by Poland’s extended rule over this area. Their dances are couple oriented and similar to the polka. Dances are characterized by energetic jumping, high legs, lively arms and twirling steps.
The Gypsies represent the culture and traditions of the Ukrainian Tsyhany. The Roma people from the Carpathian Mountains have developed their own dialect, customs and traditional dances limited to their own villages.
A dance seen in the program which did not represent a specific Ukrainian region was the Character Dance. This theme simply gives a group the opportunity to tell a specific story. In this concert, the Junior 1 Mixed group told of the joys of spring in their dancing. Their costumes were made up of vibrant colours associated with this season of new life.
During the concert several groups were responsible for multiple dances on the program, which meant there were plenty of costume changes and rushing around to be ready for the next number. The dancers were divided into seven groups: Senior Girls, Intermediate II Mixed, Intermediate I Mixed, Junior II Mixed, Junior I Mixed, Novice II Mixed and Novice I Mixed.
The members of the Senior Girls group are: Emma Eiteneier, Abby Gulka, Courtney Ostafie, Abbey Sakal, Carmen Stusek, Kelsey Chupa, Jill Gulka, Mackenzie Gulka, Jasmine Knihniski, Jordelle Lewchuk, Carley Ostafie, Dekea Ryczak and Ashley Stusek. Their instructor is Liana Zabutnyy.
Members of the Intermediate II Mixed group are: Cassandra Danyluk, Drea Beblow, Mathew Dmitruik, Jacob Gulka, Brooklyn Korol, Larissa Makowsky, Brayden Ostafie, Carson Ostafie, Emily Owchar, Megan Scherban and Jake Statchuk. Their instructor is Serhiy Zabutnyy.
Dancers in the Intermediate I Mixed group are: Jayden Burym, Jack Craig, Makayla Heshka, Jenna Korol, Tyson Korol, Matthew Makowsky, Noah Prychak, Alaina Roebuck, Methyl Trask and Sofia Tratch. Their instructor is Liana Zabutnyy, with Courtney Ostafie as an apprentice instructor.
The members of the Junior II Mixed group are: Addison Burym, Henry Craig, Jordan Makowsky, Cambrie Ostafie, Brenna Reine, Linden Roebuck, Gasper Thomas, Meekah Unick, Cody Vangen and Irena Yannoulis. Their instructor is Liana Zabutnyy, with Courtney Ostafie as an apprentice instructor.
Members of the Junior I Mixed group are: Danielle Dutchak, Reein Godhe, Heidi Mentanko, Joshua Prychak, Rhianna Stefanyshyn, Liam Trask, Jordan Zbitniff and Victoria Zbitniff. Their instructor is Serhiy Zabutnyy.
Dancers in the Novice II Mixed group are: Greta Craig, Simon Craig, Madison Dutchak, Maddy Dutchak, Zarin Godhe, Tessa Prychak, Jacob Rewakowsky, Mikayla Tratch and Wade Vangen. Their instructor is Serhiy Zabutnyy, with Jill Gulka as an apprentice instructor.
The members of the Novice I Mixed group are: Cameron Burym, Caden Doogan, Chloe Doogan, Mya Dutchak, Isaiah Faryna, Anallah Johnstone, Mykelti Johnson, Presley Owchar and Brandyn Woicichowski. Their instructor is Serhiy Zabutnyy, with Jill Gulka as an apprentice instructor.
Members of the 2016-2017 Canora Veselka Ukrainian Dance Club executive committee are: Amanda Zbitniff, president; Teresa Korol, vice-president; Allana Lewchuk, secretary; Jill Craig, treasurer; Janet Ostafie, text mail; Katherine Rewakowsky, registrar; Sheila Dmitruik and Lisa Sakal, costume co-ordinators; Shauna Stratchuk, publicity and photos; Ginette Ostafie, facility co-ordinator; Shannon Unick, competition co-ordinator; Lisa Sakal and Tracy Gulka, concert co-ordinators; Amanda Burym, Candice Tratch, Jill Craig, Katherine Rewakowsky, Amanda Zbitniff, Jen Prychak, Sherri Roebuck, Shannon Unick, Simone Homeniuk, Roseanne Heshka, Teresa Korol, Shauna Stratchuk, Leslie Gulka and Lorelei Stusek, dance supervisors; Sherri Roebuck, fundraising co-ordinator; Jennifer Prychak and Stacy Vangen, hospitality; and Lisa Sakal and Tracy Gulka, awards and gifts.
