My Ukraine!
Ukrainian
National Dance Company
October 10,
2009, 7pm
A High
Spirited Dance in 2 Acts
Wichita Grand Opera proudly presents the Ukrainian National Dance Company, which
the New York Times has acclaimed as "Astonishing!" and the Washington Post
proclaims that they are "Crowd Pleasing by Leaps and Bounds!". Famous for its brightly colored
costumes, high spirited hi-jinks and athletic precision, the 80 dancers and
musicians have embraced the beauty of their native Ukraine. The wisdom of its people mixed with
folkloric humor and optimism is expertly portrayed in this truly electrifying
performance.
Each and every performance is a romantic, elevated, passionate and exciting
show. The ensemble’s diverse concert programs presents the exquisite charm of
Ukrainian folk dancing and the wealth of its traditions spanning from the
Cossacks to the fertile plains, the Black Sea and the Carpathian Mountain
regions. This precision and charm has been warmly received by audiences all over
the world.
Myroslav Vantukh, Artistic Director of
the Ukrainian National Dance Company and expert in folk traditions and
ethnography has been in charge of the ensemble since 1980. His main objective is the careful
preservation and development of folk choreographic art.
Performance Program
ACT I
Ukraine,
My Ukraine! | Povzunets
| Kmil
| Hopak
Kozachok
| Kyiv
Fellows | Verbichenka
| Zaporozhtsi
ACT II
The
Carpathians | Podolianochka
| GipsyDance
| Shevchyky
Precarpathian
Dance "The Bells" | Moriaky
| Chumack
Joy | Hopak
ACT I
1. UKRAINE,
MY UKRAINE!
Choreography by Myroslav Vantukh, National
Artist of Ukraine
Music composed by S. Ponomariov, Honored Artist of
Ukraine, and Oleksandr Popov, Artist
Performed by the Company
In their tradition,
bread and salt on an embroidered towel is a symbol of the sincerity and kindness
of the Ukrainian people. This is a greeting dance encompassing the vast and
diverse regions of Ukraine. Each region has its own local flavor, its own
dialect through dance—here, all these wonderful flavors are united into a single
dance just as the various flowers in a garland.
2. POVZUNETS
(COSSACK PLAYFUL DANCE)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by Abram Khelemsky
Performed by male group of soloists of the
Company
One of the more
popular and well-known dances for spectators, “Povzunets” is a light-hearted
jaunt that demonstrates the technical ability of the performers with impressive
tricks, and an amazing, almost inexhaustible technical mastery. The ingenuity,
joy, bravery, and free-spiritedness of the Zaporizhia Cossacks is highly valued
by the Ukrainian people, and their song evokes feelings of audacity, courage,
and abandon.
3. KMIL
(HOP)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by Iakov Lapinskii
Performed by the Company
Performed in folk
traditions, the “Kmil” is a choreographic performance of boys walking in the
evening. Accompanied by Ukrainian folk music “Oh Khmil, My Khmil,” the
merrymaking also evokes male staidness and respect. The evening is enhanced by
the appearance of a female soloist, who demonstrates incredulous skill. She
invites the other women to join with the men in performing this traditional
dance. Colorful male and female costumes and traditional music coalesce in this
ancient Ukrainian dance.
4. HOPAK (UKRANIAN
FOLK DANCE) from the opera, Taras
Bulba
Choreography by K. Sergeev
Music
composed by V. Solovyov-Sedoy
Performed by the Company
Great Ukrainian Hero
Taras Bulba fought against Polish nobility with the help of his son Ostap. Hopak
performed by Ostap symbolizes strength, courage, and the kind hearts of the
Ukrainian Cossack. As Ostap skillfully performs this expressive and light dance,
he shares with us the invincible spirit of Ukraine.
5.
KOZACHOK
Performed
by female dancers of the company
A very happy dance,
full of delicate, lyrical scenes. As a whole, it is a bright and dynamic
narration about Ukrainian women. The lively costumes and beautiful music, and
high professionalism of the choreographics—all of this can assure of a brilliant
performance for spectators.
6. KYIV
FELLOWS
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by V. Rozhdestvensky
Performed by the Company
This dance showcases
youth in competition, and is accompanied by comic and even satirical parts. It
celebrates the shrewdness and vigor often associated with youth, while also
finding humor in the boastfulness and arrogance that accompanies it. The
competition is filled with passion and shades and swings of mood, however the
audience is able to guess the distinct characters of each of the competitors.
This dance is typically Ukranian, but known in other countries as well.
7. VERBICHENKA
(LITTLE WILLOW)
Choreography by S. Segel, People’s Artist of
Ukraine
Music composed by A. Mukiia
Performed by female dancers of the
company
“Verbichenka” is a
female dance-allegory. In the words of a Ukranian song:
“The willow near the water is like a song, like
fate.”
The curtain is raised. A beautiful image appears on the stage, reproducing the
willow—girls with weeping willow branches bending over the water. A lyrical
round dance begins, exhibiting female gracefulness and plasticity of movement.
The wind begins to rustle, developing into a storm that bends the willow trees
to the ground. Nevertheless, the willow fights back to stand and finally
weathers the storm. Silence. Then the sun emerges, as the dance ends cheerfully,
with life continuing on.
8. ZAPOROZHTSI
(NATIONAL UKRANIAN DANCE OF COSSACKS)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by Iaklov Lapinskii
Performed by male dancers of the company
This dance mimics the
warfare rituals of the Zaporizhia warrior-host and “Hetmen” (military commander)
Bohdan Khmelnitsky. The legendary Zaporizhian Cossacks, vigorous defenders of
their country and heroes from Ukraine’s ancient past, partake in a soldier game
before the audience. Equipped in their Cossack uniforms complete with weapons
dating from the 12th century, the dancers perform their routine to music that
evokes a distinct military romanticism.
ACT II
1. THE
CARPATHIANS
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Traditional
music of Ukraine
Performed by the Company
Called by a trembita
(a long wooden horn used by the locals of the Carpathian Mountains) after a long
workday, the youth gather at a polonyma (a plateau in the mountains, usually
covered with thick grass where livestock graze) to sing and dance. The dance
describes various regions of Carpathia—Gutsulschyna, Bukonya, Zacarpattia—each
region having its own costumes, character, rites and customs, songs and dances.
It is an ethnographic illustration, comprised of 3 main parts: a song of the
mountains, a song of the water, and a song of the sun. The composition is a
bright and dynamic representation of the Carpathian people.
2.
PODOLIANOCHKA (GIRL FROM THE PODILLA REGION)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music composed by Igor Ivaschenko
Performed by two members of the
Company
This is a
choreographic image full of subtle lyricism. It speaks of spring and the pure
love between two young people. The tender musical accompaniment complements this
graceful dance.
3. GIPSY
DANCE
Performed by the Company
The classical dance of
Bess Arabian gypsies. The gypsies camp is comprised of happy music and
passionate dances performed by young men and girls. It is a competition amongst
the gypsies, with one group trying to win victory over the other group in the
dance. The scene changes with a similar competition amongst the young gypsy
girls.
4. SHEVCHYKY
(SHOEMAKERS)
Choreography by Myroslav Vantukh, National
Artist of Ukraine
Music composed by Georgy Zavhorodnii, People’s Artist of
Ukraine
Performed by the Company
This dance speaks of
an ancient profession of humanity, that of the shoemaker. While teaching his
apprentice how to make shoes, the senior shoemaker also teaches him to adopt a
joyful and respectful attitude toward the profession and towards one’s
elders.
5.
PRECARPATHIAN DANCE “THE BELLS”
Choreography by A. Bondarev, Honorary Artist
of Ukraine
Staging by I. Kolesnikov
Music composed by H. Redko
Performed by the Company
This is a lyrical
dance exemplifying pure and true love. Two young people in love start dancing.
They are overwhelmed with feelings; their small bells tinkle like tiny strings
of the soul. They invite young boys and girls who also hold small bells to join
with them. It is an ancient tradition of the Precarpathian region, and a hymn to
purity and beauty.
6. MORIAKY
(SAILORS)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by Iaklov Lapinskii
Performed by male dancers of the Company
With great pride in
their heritage, the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet are the pride and hope of an
independent Ukraine. The vivacity and ingenuity of the sailors can captivate us.
Their dashing appearance on the stage can remind us of the fresh wind. This
dance tells the story of “Peter Pipeclay,” about the energetic and fickle beauty
of the sea, and Peter’s abiding love for it. In “Sailors,” the dance churns like
the foam of the hollow sea, unwinding headily like a maelstrom that sprays
showers all around. Then, but a moment later we share in a quiet chat on the
ships deck with the crew responding in unison to each cue. The crew then erupts
into a merry dance that evokes ideas of endurance and durability, both
characteristic qualities of sailors.
7. CHUMACK
JOY
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Musical
arrangement by Igor Ivashchenko
Performed by male dancers of the
Company
This is a
choreographic picture from the past of the Ukrainian people. It is a humorous
piece, but at the same time sensitive in nature, depicting the adventures of
four poor men, whose poverty forced them to migrate to the southern part of the
country to make a living (such people were referred to as Chumacks). The long
and difficult journey taught them to appreciate the small tokens of life, such
as receiving a new pair of
shoes.
Admirable at
first sight, this dance is even more impressive when watched several times, as
the choreography is interwoven with a mastery of drama.
8. HOPAK (UKRAINIAN
FOLK DANCE)
Choreography by Pavlo Virsky
Music
composed by Boris Yarovynsky, People’s Artist of Ukraine
Performed by the
Company
From time in memoriam,
no Ukrainian program would be complete without the “Hopping Dance” (Hopak). With
almost every dance step being accompanied by a “Hop” exclamation, this dance
eventually came to be known as the “Hopak.” This dance form is comprised of
numerous bravura solo performances and breathtaking feats, with spectacular,
dynamic and intricate choreographic formations of the company. The female
dancers are adorned with the most beautiful blouses, skirts, chaplets, necklaces
and colorful headbands, which are representative of the great culture of
Ukraine. With its incredible choreography, the “Hopak,” is the quintessential
Ukrainian art form, and is a fitting way in which to end this spectacular
program. |
