Calgary Enjoys A Ukrainian Spectacular

Just returned home from an absolutely elegant evening of symphony music and beautifully performed, choreographed Ukrainian dance!  Can't believe how lucky we are to be able to enjoy Calgary's own Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra!  The fabulous musicians of the CPO tonight presented another "Destination" Series performance, a fifth such Ukrainian Spectacular!  And tonight the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble again joined the fun! This evening's orchestral selections included Ukrainian born Reinhold Gliere's Overture on Slavonic Themes, Smetana's Three Dances from the Bartered Bride, and Selections from Ukrainian born Sergei Prokofiev's Cinderella, Suites 1 and 3. Dance features arranged by Donovan Seidle included Tryzub Hopak, Carichka, Transcarpathian Suite, Volynsky Tanets, and Virskyi Hopak.

Conductor Edmond Agopian and the CPO played a classy program of nineteenth and twentieth century music based on the folk styles, themes, and dreams of the Eastern European Slavic nation, Ukraine, and its neighbours.  As Agopian sweetly teased in his commentary, the flashy and energetic musical score would make for heated, if not steamy orchestra players.  Each of the selections showcased another distinct melodic or rhythmic theme, intricate patterns, and attractive, unusual colours, which both aided and contrasted with the beautiful dancing of Tryzub's performers.  Artistic Director Vasyl Kanevets's dazzling, enchanting choreography really took the dancers much farther than the familiar hopak.  Fancy footwork, intriguing gestures and very attractive costumes from different regions of Ukraine made for a very enjoyable dance performance.  

How exceptionally lovely to overhear the audience commentary too!  From the first warm words of welcome in Ukrainian by Adriana Bishop (violinist), to the embroidered attire on Conductor Agopian, and the sophisticated sights and sounds of this evening's performance, people were pleased and impressed, and perhaps surprised at the fascinating gemstones sparkling in the Calgary cultural scene - the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Calgary's Ukrainian Tryzub Dancer Ensemble. Much applause and happy faces leaving the theatre!

Thanks to Nexen, the Calgary Herald, the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary, and others for your sponsorship too!

Tryzub Dancers at the CPO - September 14, 2013

Collaborations of the finest artistic talents take the stage again in Calgary this September! The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has a sensational program of Gliere, Smetana, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky and of course a Hopak to salute the music and culture of Ukraine. And Calgary's Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is exuberantly sharing the color, enthusiasm, and Canada's favorite dance form - the Ukranian Hopak! 

Hopak! A Ukrainian Spectacular is part of the Destination Series of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra's offerings in fall of 2013. Put Saturday, Septmber 14, 2013 at 8 PM on the calendar!

It seems a lot of Canadians have enjoyed the traditional Hopak of Ukrainian dance ensembles across the prairies and beyond.  But did you know that recently there has been an upsurgence in recognition that the powerful Hopak contains remnants of an ancient Cossack martial art?  Powerful, contained in a public dance form, Tryzub's Hopak is a celebration of potential, kinetic energy and oh, so fun to watch!

Here you can enjoy an excerpt from a famous movie about Ukraine's Virsky Ukrainian Dance company, filmed in 1975 during Pavlo Virsky's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Car5tKzhFv0

To purchase tickets, call the CPO Box Office at 403-571-0849.
Online ticket sales will be available August 15, 2013.
To subscribe to the entire Destination Series call the CPO Box Office at 403.571.0849.
Saturday, September 14, 2013 – 8pm at Calgary's Jack Singer Concert Hall.

Conductor Edmond Agopian will lead Calgary's CPO with guest artists Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in a beautiful program built on Glière's Overture on Slavonic Themes, Three Dances from Smetana's  The Bartered Bride, Excerpts from Prokofiev's Cinderella, the Hopak from Mussorgsky's Sorochinsky Fair, and Ukrainian Dances arranged by D. Seidle. 
 

Ukrainian Dancing Has Come a Long Way!

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For a lot of Ukrainian Canadians, the experience of Ukrainian dancing has no equal.  It is an expression of childhood.  Memorable hours of driving to and fro through the prairie winter, to learn to dance, countless trips to the gas bar and coffee stops, certainly crowd the memories of many adults, that's true.  But any activity that is so thoroughly championed by parents, aunties and uncles, grandparents, and the entire community is bound to have meaning for a small child. Learning to have stage presence, poise, artistry, perform in great venues, travel to entertain and be cheered, all while involved in activity that conveys respect and admiration for ancestors of yore - not to mention the great sinew that binds all Ukrainian dancers of all generations and ages - what can compare! 

Some people probably take some of this opportunity for granted, but of course Ukrainian dancing is also work.  At least this is the kind of work that comes of passion, of vocation, of a deeply held dream to change the world.  Years of preparation, years of sweaty clothing, torn slippers, richly rewarded by momentary applause and accolades. And yet it is work. Work that has power and impact.   Such is the life of a Ukrainian dancing teacher.  For the love of Ukrainian dancing!

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Today there are Ukrainian dancing schools in most Canadian provinces! And there are very talented, professionally trained teachers bringing more talented youngsters into the embrace of culture, tradition, and dreams. And the best of them have the opportunity to move their part time living into a professional career. 

Congratulations to organizations like Shumka, Cheremosh, Tryzub, and many others across the Canadian steppes for taking Ukrainian Dance to the next level, over and over again! Congratulations for making real careers possible for Ukrainian dancers here in Canada. 

The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers are looking for a full time Principal for the Shumka School of Dance. A two year contract position at the Shumka Studios in Edmonton, Alberta is a dream job. Providing artistic, managerial, instructional, budgeting and administrative services, this is a really important arts position. Excellence in dance, thorough understanding of Ukrainian dance, music, culture and folklore, while thoroughly capable of leadership in both the craft of dance and its business in today's marketplace, this is a job for an innovative and strategic leader.

For more information check the website at http://www.shumka.com/ . 

But more than that, remember to say a quiet thanks for the persons who put your first dance slippers on! Good job!

Alberta Culture Days at Mount Royal

I bumped into Stephania Romaniuk at The Mount Royal Conservatory a few days ago. A wonderful musician herself, she was excited to advocate for the rich cultural life in our province, especially for "Alberta Culture Days" this year from Sept. 28-30 at Mount Royal. Exciting performance and workshops will be featured. All performances and workshops are free and open to the public! More information is available at www.mtroyal.ca/abculturedays.

Featuring performers including the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, the event will host performances and workshops from a variety of cultures and genres (Flamenco dance, Venezuelan choir, Loose Moose Theatre Company improv, Iranian musician).  See these performers and Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble perform at the Leacock Theatre on the Mount Royal University Complex on Saturday September 19 at 7 p.m.
 
Instructors from the Tryzub ensemble will also give two Ukrainian dance workshops for beginners - one for adults from 2:15-3:15 p.m. and one for children from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on campus on Saturday, Sept. 29.

What an exciting way to spend the weekend!
On behalf of Stephania and MRC, please feel free to forward this invitation to friends and family - all are welcome and invited!

Stephania Romaniuk
403.440.6591
sromaniuk@mtroyal.ca

Harvest Gala - A Tryzub Zabava

Save the date for Tryzub's Annual Zabava 'Harvest Gala' on November 3, 2012.
Early bird tickets are now avaialbe until September 15 at $75/person (regular price $90/person). For tickets please e-mail zabava@tryzub.ca or call 403-720-4840.

Calgary's GlobalFest -August 26-26, 2012

Calgary is the host city for so many summer festivals, with many opportunities for celebrating our lovely city.  2012 also marks the 10th Anniversary of Calgary's GlobalFest.  This multicultural festival is simply world class!  With all the pavilions set up in Elliston Park representing a huge variety of cultures cooperating to make a better Calgary, the event is topped off with a fabulous international fireworks competition. Calgary's Ukrainian Tryzub Dancers will host the Ukrainian pavilion, and provide tasty Ukrainian food for the guests while delivering their unique brand of Ukrainian dance in their performances on various stages throughout the park.
Globalfest takes place from August 16-26 at Elliston Park, 17 Av and 68 St SE. 
The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble will be featured during the Sunday August 26 finale performance. Dancing to live music performed by the Kensington Sinfonia and joined by several alumni dancers, this is guaranteed to be an exciting, explosive conclusion to GlobalFest 2012.

Come with your friends and family for a fun experience - get to know the culture side of Calgary!!

Support Tryzub by purchasing your Globalfest tickets through the web link provided below. Ticket prices are $10 per night, or five nights (not including the finale) for $40 (regular price $15/ticket). August 26 Finale tickets are $15 each. Please contact Tryzub at info@tryzub.ca to purchase your tickets now!

You can also see the Globalfest website for more details: www.globalfest.ca

 

Calgary's Annual Canada Day/Dominion Day at Heritage Park - July 1, 2012

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A lady I know has recently been awarded the Order of Canada.  She now has the honor and privilege to preside over the Citizenship ceremonies welcoming new Canadian citizens from widely different homelands.  Mrs. Orysia Sushko (editor of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada newspaper "Promin"), as Presiding Official spoke about the importance of active citizenship, responsibilities and obligations which new Canadians accept with the privilege of citizenship.  Administering the oath, she spoke about the equality of men and women, our shared traditions and values, obeying the laws, and protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment.  Welcoming new citizens in the name of Her Majesty, the Queen, she concluded her comments saying "From this day forward, our history is now your history.  Our laws are your laws.  Our identity is your identity.  Our responsibility to be a good and faithful citizen, loyal to Canada, is now your responsibility.  The future of Canada, our freedom, our democracy, our peaceful society, equality under the law, our properity - the future of all these things now depend on you.  As a great Canadian soldier poet, Dr. John McCrea wrote, "To you we throw the torch; Be yours to hold it high".  Be a proud Canadian - honour and respect the rights you have received at today's citizenship ceremony." (Promin - June-July 2012)

What heartwarming and positive words, from our newest Ukrainian Canadian recipient of the Order of Canada.  Congratulations Orysia and to all the most recent inductees.

Calgary will celebrate our Canada Day/Dominion Day with a great roster of performers at Celebration Field Stage in Heritage Park!  Make sure you come to enjoy the company of guests, recent Canadians, and the representatives of our First Nations, Canadians celebrating Canadian culture from coast to coast, our cultural inheritance, all at Heritage Park Historical Village this weekend!

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With over 120 years of Ukrainian-Canadian-ness to celebrate - The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Junior Tryzub will be performing as part of Heritage Park's Dominion Day (Canada Day) Celebrations. Tryzub will be performing on the Celebration Field Stage at 3:00pm. 
For more information, please see: www.heritagepark.ca/special-events/canadaDay.php

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