The Treasure of Community - Calgary Ukrainian Festival 2015

Giving back to the community is high priority for Ukrainians in Canada. Socially, economically, spiritually, intellectually and culturally our community provides profoundly rich experiences for its many, many participants. In the century and more of Ukrainian diaspora in North America the community has overcome remarkable challenges, and flourished in ways we will only appreciate from the vantage point of future times.

A treasured legacy of profound love, dedication of resources and time - this is the Calgary Ukrainian Festival. And how can you be a part of it!!

Maybe this is your year for adopting a class? Could you provide for Ukrainian lessons for a needy child? Could you provide for someone's Ukrainian dance lessons this year? Could you contribute to a family's spiritual journey via their membership in a church? Could you touch the hearts of the needy through their sense, especially their stomachs - send a meal of pyrogies and holubtsi? Contribute to the Ukrainian Canadian Community's advocacy for the homeland? Promote the professional and intellectual resources at the Ukrainian Library at St. Vlads? Get involved in outreach and education through the Pioneer Program at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada Branch here in Calgary?

So many ways to get involved - so many wonderful sights, sounds, and smells - remember to bring the kids for a very friendly, kid centered day, and then plan for the evening zabava - korchma, and dance (of course!! bring your boots!!)

COME FOR THE FUN! STAY FOR THE TREASURE OF COMMUNITY!

Suzirya The Anniversary Show 2015

Do you miss the adrenaline rush, the dancer habits, the chaos of rehearsal schedules, the escapism through physical engagement in dance, your former flexibility,the costumes, stage makeup, pounding dance music, and trusting friendships of your dancing days?  If even one of these applies to you then you have to hurry and get your tickets!

In just over a week, Suzirya will be pulling out all the stops to celebrate their 10th Anniversary Show! I imagine Serhiy and the dancers will be beaming with exhilaration! Tickets are still available! Come and join Suzirya and special guests, the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Society, the Yalenka Ukrainian Dancers Society and theKorinnya Ukrainian Folk Ensemble as they celebrate 10 years of Ukrainian dance in Calgary!

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 7:30 pm

Location: Martha Cohen Theatre (220 9 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB)

Tickets are available through the Arts Commons website (https://shop.artscommons.ca/single/SYOS.aspx?p=8649) or at the Arts Commons Box Office (Centre Court at 225 8 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB).

Calgary's Fifth Ukrainian Festival 2014

Do you remember hope and enthusiasm of that special day back in May 2010? An amazing festival to present to Calgarians, hopeful presenters and guests.... It was supposed to be a sunny spring day, but in typical Calgary fashion, it was a snowy spring day! And an awesome First Calgary Ukrainian Festival brought light, warmth, companionship and great fun to our wonderful city!

The success of that weekend event surpassed all expectations! With line-up crowds spilling out from the foyer onto the street - enthusiastically anticipating and celebrating the day - it was clearly a sign of pent-up community spirit here in Ukrainian Calgary. The very first, of course has led to many more, in fact so many that now Calgary's festival is on the International Ukrainian Festival Map! and if you haven't marked it into your calendar yet, IT IS TIME!



Calgary's FIFTH Ukrainian Festival June 7th and 8th, 2014!

http://www.calgaryukrainianfestival.ca

Arkan - the Lasso

Halyna Koszarycz
Arkan
amk2013

A friend of mine is taking a university course for which she needs to gather music representative of cultures studied in the Alberta classroom.  A music specialist, she and I speak a common language.  Leaning on the cultural inheritance of the non British world, we have an accumulated understanding that the rhythms and melodic shapes are directly derived from the language and syntax of indigenous peoples the world over. So when you hear a specific melody, a lilt in the phrase, a bounce in the rhythms, these are all pulled from the natural speech patterns of regular people in their culturally specific lives, somewhere in the world.

So I extracted a few Ukrainian folk songs for my friend's assignment.  I would have loved to provide her with authentic sounds and rhythms, but as she needed to interpret them herself for the class, it would have proven time consuming.  In order to make the process easy, I originally selected music that was perhaps more western in phrase and rhythm than indigenously Ukrainian.  And I suspect this is why our music is "straightened out" and "fixed", so often.

Nonetheless, the intent was to provide Ukrainian folk-song material to be included in the instructional cycle of a music specialist in public school.  I had an interesting time considering what would be appropriate and fun, so I chose a non-text melody for Arkan - the lasso.  If you have ever seen Ukrainian dancing, one of the circle dances of western Ukraine is Arkan. Arkan is a popular dance of Ukrainian Hutsul people, those of south-western Ukraine.  Traditionally performed by men around a burning bonfire, they stand with arms upon each other's shoulders.  Arkan refers to the step performed around the fire.  Stepping on the right foot, the left foot crosses behind, the right foot steps to the side again and the left foot is brought in front of the dancer with a bent knee, and then the right foot is brought in front of the dancer with a bent knee. The winding step is essentially a rope or lasso that encircles the flame.

The flames lap at their feet as the men fly around the circle in an attempt to capture the flame with their lasso, embracing the primordial vortex of energy  -  this is the arkan.  The cultural baggage with this arkan dance is probably rich with symbols and practical meaning.  I suspect is has to do with keeping the men fit and enthused during the long cold nights in the mountains, vigilant by night, possibly trading, lumber-jacking or on the war-path by day.  I once read how Ukrainian dance is a thinly veiled martial art.  Intriguing, no?

Аркан-гуцульський танець

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8FBnZPTIuM

Some beautiful images at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz_ADeB5OAo&list=PLWU_G6uw0RwJT0t5nL3QXrHxe2C3tRT8y

Ukrainian Dancing Has Come a Long Way!

amk2012

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!

amk 2012

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!

TROYANDA MALANKA in Lethbridge 2013

Another fabulous Ukrainian New Year's MALANKA to put on your calendar! 

The Troyanda Ensemble of Lethbridge has been presenting Ukrainian curriculum shows to sold out audiences recently, and their annual MALANKA Маланка celebration of Ukrainian New Years are becoming highly anticipated events not to miss!   

Once again, Troyanda Ensemble is hosting their Ukrainian New Year's MALANKA, Новорічна Маланка, to promote Ukrainian culture primarily through dance, to the community of Lethbridge and beyond.  Their talented instructors Miss Anastasia Sereda and Mr. Dean Mackedenski are excited for the program and the fun of the event. And the volunteers who help make it all happen are delighted this is becoming an annual event people look forward to every year.  With absolutedanceband.com it will be a toe tapping, and dancing event with great polkas, waltzes, and a kolomejka or two.  


The Lethbridge community is hosting their annual Troyanda Троянда MALANKA on Saturday, January 19th, 2013 at the Lethbridge LSCO- Lethbridge Senior Citizen's Organization facility in the heart of the city at 500 11 Street South, Lethbridge, AB. (403) 320-2222. 





Watch for more details!

YALYNKA MALANKA in Strathmore 2013

Just east of Calgary is a lovely community called Strathmore, where it turns out there is an active Ukrainian community who are again hosting their annual YALYNKA MALANKA!  Ялинки-Маланка! They certainly have a great band, one of Alberta's best Dance Bands - absolutedanceband.com.  And I can personally attest to some of their strongest culinary traditions in Strathmore - delicious! 

For a late season MALANKA on February 2, 2013 - make sure to book tickets to the YALYNKA MALANKA in Strathmore, Alberta.  

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

Spirit of the Seasons - Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre

One has to admire the positivity of Suzirya's approach to dance.  Joyful, enthusiastic, forward looking!  With one glance back into the folkloric traditions of Ukraine, and a grande gesture forward, the talented and professionally trained dancers of Calgary's Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre (under the direction of Serguei Makarov), share the timeless beauty of dance.  I hope you will mark these upcoming dates in your calendar and join in the "spirit of the seasons". 

SUZIRYA Ukrainian Dance Theatre is excited to announce the performance of their upcoming production, "Spirit of the Seasons" at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday, October 13th and a second show in Edmonton on Sunday, October 21st at the Arden Theatre. www.suzirya.com
 

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

 

Little Birdie

http://humortrain.com/

We were recently at a resort for a holiday break. The location, the breathtaking views, the perfect combination of sand, water, gentle breeze, the sounds of peaceful rest, I have such appreciation for the Creator!

At the same time, the harmonious combination of services provided at this resort meets every perceived whim or need. Shelter for the frail body that can be harmed through excessive weather, food to shape the body and prime it for service, companionship to feed the social needs, and genial entertainment that soothes the spirit and engages the imagination.

So here at the resort, my main work is to suntan. Between suntanning episodes there are swimming breaks, eating breaks, sleeping breaks, and not doing much but relaxing breaks. It is a hard life, but somehow I got voluntold for this job.

We head to the open air restaurant for mealtime and we notice the place could easily be overcome with wildlife if it didn't have netting on the windows and doors. Low tech solutions include a door monitor person who holds the netting for entries and exits. However, sometimes a keen little bird slips in, hopping sideways between the netting, eager for the feast of corn nibblets or bread crumbs. Interesting choices, but that is what they take. So we watch them in silence.

This makes one think the little prayer "Be still,and know I am God!". I silently thank the Creator for the millions of adventurous creatures of the depths who fulfilled their lives and their legacy is the perfectly soft sand that we walk upon. Whether the wind is more powerful, or the sun, one can't help but notice how every part of creation zealously uplifts its face in the breeze adoring the sun. Every tree, flowering plant, and crawling reptile pursues its mission of purpose, of gratitude, and of service.

It is so in Ukrainian Calgary, too. So many blessings: our amazing location nestled in the pocket of creation rich in resources, the best prairie and mountain vistas, sunshine and chinook reprieves from winter, few mosquitos, the perfect combination of healthy water, clean air, as well as the pleasant tug of economic opportunity.

Is it any wonder this harmonious living has blessed us with such a vibrant Ukrainian community in Calgary as well? Really, so far away from "the mother ship"' Ukraine, we have so many tremendous human services that meet just about every perceived human need or whim. Everything from Ukrainian child services, to Ukrainian language schools, youth activities, opportunities to learn, teach, serve, sing, play, share, revel and worship exists in our Ukrainian Calgary. And the amazing thing new immigrants to Calgary are astounded to realize -  primarily volunteer work!! It's like Ukrainian Calgary attended "self-help" classes for 120 years!! Perhaps in light of all this we could revisit the "self-help" theme. What is it all about?  What for? 

To paraphrase Richard N. Bolles, the writer who has sold over 8 million copies of the series "What Color is Your Parachute?", purpose is threefold.  First, to seek to stand in the presence of the Creator, to know Him as God, and to enjoy Him and see His hand in all things. Second, to do what you can, moment by moment, to make this world a better place, having embraced His wisdom. Third, to employ the unique talents and abilities that He has gifted to you, which you use with immense joy and fulfillment, in the places and services for which He has created the perfect need of you.

Is yours a mission of mind? Are you an optimistic pioneer who sees possibilities where others see problems?  Could your gift of vision and leadership help Ukrainian Calgary?  Perhaps the spirit will move you? 

Is yours a mission of gratitude? Do Ukrainian Canadian arts, symbols, literature, music, dance and history hold a special place in your spirit - and can you convey that to others?   Maybe you are a resource, a helper, a Ukrainian school teacher and nurture a love of Ukrainian ancestry in our children?

Is yours a gift of service? Are you blessed with abundance, and want to "pay it forward"?

Sitting in the resort restaurant, I watched my husband look over my head, raise his eyes, and smile broadly. He had spied a little bird flying to and from the netted window. Watching him smile so sweetly, I couldn't help but ask what was going on behind me. Turning, I watched the little bird pick up little food crumbs and fly to the screen, where the little bird's life partner was singing beautifully in anticipation of the shared crumbs coming to him. Their little beaks opened, their voices chirped happily, they shared the bounty left by the guests.

An astoundingly beautiful metaphor. Don't we all wait for the crumbs to fall upon us fom the Creator's bountiful table? I hope you will share some of your crumbs: time, talent, and treasure. Bud'mo!

Ukrainian Dancing in Calgary

Ukrainian Dancing is alive and well in Calgary!  There seem to be so many dance schools!  Well, at the Calgary Ukrainian Festival this June 2012, audiences were entertained by many, diverse, and talented groups of Ukrainian dancers.  I saw little children - seemed like maybe 4 or 5 years old - take the stage for solo dancing!  Imagine having the stage presence, the personal discipline, the ability to handle a crowd, to stay focused!  Wow, these little ones learn a lot about life through Ukrainian dancing.   

 The costumes were widely disparate.Everything from costumes that looked like little wind up dollies, to traditional Hutsul, Transcarpathian, Bukovinian - the clothing was colorful, practical and comfortable.  One girl told me she prefers to wear her Ukrainian clothing at these festivals, especially when it is hot - she can't stand sweating in a t-shirt and jeans.  Plus, she enjoys being recognized, and showing off her ancestral heritage.

 I particularly enjoyed the large montage performance of upwards of 30 children on stage - they had to have some real idea of space, time, and coordination!  How does a little person remember when to go on, when to take their turn, how to respond to an audience - in this case an adoring audience?  Clearly these little dancers, and their dance school teachers are onto something!  I'll bet a lot of learning goes on on all sides!

Perhaps the best performances were the adult groups though.  The fact that so many "grown ups" are still enjoying their traditional Ukrainian dance forms just makes me happy.  Whether it is for fitness, for companionship, for fun, or maybe even because it is an expression of some sense of identity with the whole Ukrainian thing, it is just great!

Congratulations to all the dancers - you had audiences cheering, little people enthralled, and parents and guests amazed by your talent!