Over 150 guests attended the Norquay Rosa Ukrainian Dance Club’s spring concert held April 24 in the Norquay Communiplex.
It was “an afternoon of excellent entertainment,” said a release from the club.
As the emcee, Amber Nokinski, who is an alumnus of the club, extended a warm welcome to all in attendance.
“Those who were able to attend our 11th annual Malanka celebrations this past January received a brief glimpse of some of the dances being prepared,” Nokinski said. “Today you will see the completed product.”
The concert was opened by the singing of the Canadian national anthem, followed by the traditional Pryvit or welcome dance performed by the Group Five Dancers: Kyrsten Frampton, Cody Heskin, Jayden Heskin, Calum Livingstone, Chantel Nokinsky, Calum Livingstone, Nicole Tureski, and Sasha Sobothniski.
The traditional bread and salt was presented by two of the Group One dancers, Jax Griffith and Peyton Holinaty.
“Any agrarian culture and community knows the fruits of the earth are a great gift to us,” Nokinski said. “For Canadians of Ukrainian descent, whose ancestors came from the “Breadbasket of Europe,” bread is regarded as one of the holiest of all foods. In addition to the spiritual and religious significance of bread and salt, the round loaf of bread, or “kolach,” is a symbol of eternity, and salt is presented as a wish that all of the best flavour may be brought out in your life.
“This year, the dancers once again have had the opportunity to work with our instructor, Serhiy Zabutnyy, who comes to us from Regina, and is formerly from Ukraine,” she said. “Serhiy brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity from his experiences as a dancer and choreographer with a number of groups in Ukraine and Canada, and we are so pleased to have him working with our dancers.”
This year, the dance group is comprised of 36 student dancers along with a group of six adult dancers.
In introducing the program, it was noted that the dancers and their instructor had put together an impressive array of dances with choreography from the Poltava, Hutzul, Bukovina, and Transcarpathian regions of Ukraine.
Many of these dances were presented successfully at the Yachminka Dance Festival two weeks ago in Russell, Man., she said.
Following the welcome dance, the Group Five dancers presented a Bukovinian dance, which had been awarded a mark of 90 and gold as well as was honoured with the Adjudicator’s Choice Award for Most Promising Group Dance at the Russell Competitions.
The Group Five Hutzul dance, which had earned a mark of 90 to win gold as well, was presented later in program.
The Group Four dancers, consisting of TJ Ebert, Emily Livingstone, Megan Nystedt and Taylor Wasylyniuk, presented both a Bukovinian dance and a Transcarpathian dance, which had both been awarded marks of 88 and silver in Russell.
The Group Three dancers, Sierra Dahlin, Carson Ebert, Alexis Lindgren, Jaxson Lindgren, Rylen Lukey, Jace Vogel and Kortny Wasylyniuk, presented dances from the Hutzul and Poltava regions. Their Hutzul dance was awarded a mark of 85 and silver, while the Poltava dance earned a mark of 94 and gold.
Poltava and Hutzul dances, which had both earned marks of 90 and gold, were also presented by Group Two dancers, consisting of Paul Frampton, Charlie Griffith, Lily Kish, Westin Lindgren, Sarah Lukey, Reese Reine, and Presley Vogel.
The newest, and youngest dancers, in Group one, Makayla Shankowsky, Bristol Lindgren, Jax Griffith, Emmarie Holinaty, Peyton Holinaty, Eryn Wasylyniuk and Liam Kish, charmed the crowd with their Poltava dance.
It was wonderful to welcome to the stage a group of dedicated and energetic adult dancers, Kim Gulka, Amanda Holinaty, Mikaela Musey, Jordyn Musey, Allyson Grywacheski, and Dana Tureski, who performed a beautiful Poltava dance, the release said.
In the midst of the group dances, there were also two solo performances: a Poltava dance performed by Kyrsten Frampton, and a Transcarpathian dance performed by Emily Livingstone.
“This afternoon, you will have the opportunity to see a group of talented and hard-working dancers who have volunteered many hours of their time, both after school and on weekends, to develop their skills,” Nokinski said. “In this, they have been very successful, but they could not have accomplished this on their own. This concert is not only a showcase of their hard work, but it is also a gesture of appreciation to their families and friends who have supported them throughout the year.”
The final group dance number presented was the fast-paced and well-known Hopak, performed by the combined Groups Four and Five dancers: Taylor Wasylyniuk, Megan Nystedt, Emily Livingstone, TJ Ebert, Cody Heskin, Jayden Heskin, Kyrsten Frampton, Chantel Nokinsky, Calum Livingstone, Nicole Tureski, and Sasha Sobothniski. This dance had earned a mark of 90 and gold at the competition in Russell, and was greeted with loud and enthusiastic applause at the concert.
Following the Hopak was a special part of the program, which is the presentation of the full wreath, or “vinok,” to one of the dancers, Emily Livingstone, by her mother, Lilia Livingstone.
“This wreath ceremony is not just a re-enactment of an ancient folkloric tradition, but in a real sense it is an acknowledgement of the dedication, perseverance, and growth displayed by the recipients, Kalyna Livingstone said as she read the Wreath of Girlhood.
“Here in the modern context of the Ukrainian Dance Club, the wreath and full costume not only symbolize a change in status for the young lady, but also an increase in responsibility, as a leader within your group, and as a role model for the young dancers who will follow you,” Livingstone said.
“With the presentation of the wreath, this young lady becomes a full-costumed senior dancer,” she said. “Congratulations, Emily.”
All the dancers, from the youngest to the adults, gathered for a final time on the stage for the high-spirited finale of the Kolomeyka, which gave each dancer the opportunity to present for the final time this year, his or her favourite piece of dance choreography for their families and friends.
Following the Kolomeyka, a graduation gift was presented to Grade 12 dancer, Dillon Nokinsky, who is in his final year as a student dancer with the Rosa Dance Club, and will be graduating from Norquay High School this year.
“Sincere thanks” were extended not only to the families of the dancers, but also to the individuals and businesses in the community and surrounding areas for their support throughout the year, the release said. Saskatchewan Lotteries and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association were also acknowledged for their support through yearly grants which help with the day-to-day operations of the dance club.
The afternoon ended with a lunch.
