Ukrainians celebrate 21 years of independence
By: Kimberly Flanders
Aug 27, 2012
Photos by Carl Kosola

Thousands of Ukrainians from all over gathered in Horsham on Sunday to celebrate at the 21st annual Ukrainian Folk Festival.

The festival, which is a celebration of Ukrainian independence, included folk music, art, dance and plenty of food.

“This is a day that we celebrate our Ukrainian heritage, and we showcase it with dance and song,” said Dan Nysch, president of the Ukrainian American Sport Center. Full article, photos and video »

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The Ukrainian Community of the Philadelphia area celebrated Ukraine’s Independence Day at Tryzubivka
Horsham, PA – 26 August, 2012

The blue and yellow colors adorning Tryzubivka gleamed with brilliant vibrancy in the gorgeous Sunday afternoon sun which greeted over 1,500 people, young and old, as they assembled to celebrate twenty-one years of Ukraine’s independence. Banners danced gracefully in the light summer breeze which invigorated the senses with a uniquely Ukrainian spirit. Full article, photos »

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Здобутки Незалежної України очима громади

За матеріалами тижневика “Міст”
Автор Наталія Комар / Автор фото Наталія Комар

Дата 24 серпня назавжди ввійшла в історію українства як крок у державотворенні незалежної України. Тож, святкування 21-ї річниці Незалежності у Філадельфії завдяки старанням організаторів – Українського Громадського Комітету – були масштабними, яскравими та урочистими. Дводенна програма включала в себе офіційну та розважальну частини, що дало змогу задовільнити уподобання як  старшого панства, так і молоді. Так громада вшанувала історичну пам’ять українців, причетних до відродження вільної незалежної держави, й українську культуру, яка не просто існує, а ще й динамічно розвивається і заявляє про це повсюдно. І все це сукупно нагадало, що ми є однією великою українською родиною і нам ще є чим пишатись, навіть в непростих умовах сьогодення. Full article, photos »

 

21st Annual Ukrainian Folk Festival
Sunday, August 26, 2012
12:00 – 8:00 P.M.

ENJOY THE FUN, FOOD, MUSIC, DANCING AND ARTS AND CRAFTS
VISIT VENDORS GROVE

Exciting, spectacular, dazzling, breathtaking, exhilarating, spirited, soulful, enchanting, captivating, and intriguing – modest words which describe but by no means capture the essence of Ukrainian folk art, music, and dance. From the rich color and deep symbolism of the delicate “pysanka” (Ukrainian Easter Egg) to the thunderous, climatic, power, rhythm and strength of “HOPAK” – the world’s most exciting ethnic dance - and every brilliant “Kolomiyka” (polka) and soulful folk song in between, we invite you to experience the 21st Annual Ukrainian Folk Festival, celebrating the anniversary of our ancestral homeland’s independence. This year’s extravaganza will take place on Sunday, August 26, 2012, beginning at 12:00 Noon at the Ukrainian American Sport Center - Tryzub (www.tryzub.org) located at County Line and Lower State Roads, Horsham, PA.

 

PROGRAM:

12:00 p.m. – festival begins; concessions begin.                       
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Gala Festival Stage Show
                       
4:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Public Social Dance (“Zabva”)
Vox Ethnica Orchestra – traditional, modern, ballroom and Polka

FESTIVAL STAGE SHOW FEATURES:

• "ZORIANY" Ukrainian Academic Theater of Music, Singing and Dance (Yatran Project)
  

  
  
  "Springfest Games” by Zoriany
  

  Approximately 40 professional dancers, musicians and singers from Kirovohrad, Ukraine are part of this most exciting multi-talented ensemble that “does it all”: it sings, plays music and dances. Watching the company’s wonderful dancers perform to live music is particularly exciting. The group also features music on any number of Ukrainian National instruments like the “Tsymbaly” and the “Bandura”.

  Along with elements from its own repertoire, Zoriany’s thrilling, indeed stunning, stage performance will also recast excerpts from the program which the Yatran Ukrainian National Dance Company from their home city featured during their renowned 1978 USA tour. Realizing the powerful “nationalistic” wave of emotional and spiritual interaction that Yatran had generated in the diaspora, the soviet authorities cut the tour short and unceremoniously disbanded the ensemble.
  
  Yatran had received rave reviews from legendary dance critic, Clive Barns, after their Radio City Music Hall performance in New York City. In collaboration with the original choreographer, Anatoliy Krivokhyza, Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble’s artistic director, Taras Lewyckyj, has recreated this stunning Yatran program and will present exerpts it on the festival stage.
  
  
  

  Zoriany presents "YATRAN IS BACK"

  
  During their stay in America, the Zoriany Dancers and musicians will participate in a three-week work period with internationally acclaimed dance choreographer, Michael Morris at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage has awarded funding to Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble to commission an original work by Morris, who has been referred to as "the most important choreographer since Balanchine." His work is deeply rooted in culture and custom--seamlessly integrating elements drawn from traditions as diverse as Eastern European folk dance, classical ballet, and modern dance. The Voloshky and Morris collaboration will explore a wider artistic range and "cross-pollinate" traditional and modern audiences.
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ukrainian Folk Festival 2012 Preview 

  

  
  
  “Zakarpatsky – Carpathian Dance” by Zoriany
  

• DESNA Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto (Canada) For more than 35 years, DESNA has been dazzling audiences throughout Canada, the US and abroad with a wide repertoire of Ukrainian dances. Under the direction of Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Ensemble-trained Yuri & Luba Grekov, DESNA presents technically demanding and exhilarating dances accented by exquisite costumes and diverse music. This celebration of movement creates a vibrant spectacle for all audiences to enjoy.
  
  

DESNA’s repertoire consists of various traditional dances including Pryvit, Hutsul, Bukovynian, Kozachok and Hopak. However, it is the group’s strong belief that the key to celebrating and broadening tradition lies in contrasting it with new and different styles of dance. This led to the creation of a series of new dances including the Canadian Country Dance, Gypsy, Miners, and various comedic numbers. www.Desna.ca

• Violinist Innesa Tymochko Dekajlo (Lviv, Ukraine) starting at the age of six, Innesa has studied violin with some of Europe’s greatest masters. She has fused the beauty, power and soul of traditional Ukrainian folk music with the classical string instrument - the violin. Her fresh, inventive style has gained critical acclaim from both classical and traditional music critics. Innesa has toured throughout Europe and North America. www.innesa.com.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• VOX ETHNICA BAND (New York City) Its unique compositional approach to music has received wide recognition in the USA, Canada and Europe; its style of transforming East European folk music is influential. Vox Ethnica is the only band that performs all manner of Eastern European Folk and Pop music (Ukrainian, Lemko, Rusyn,  Czech, Slovak, and Polish, Rusyn, Ukrainian) set to unique modern arrangements. It also carries a wide, varied and rich repertoire of American and British music – from the twenties to contemporary top hits.
  
  

Enjoy Vox Ethnica both on stage and as your band for social dancing at the festival. www.voxethnika.com

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Photos courtesy of Christine Syzonenko

Festival 2010 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7421005@N06/sets/72157624660669439/with/4917823475/

Festival 2009 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7421005@N06/sets/72157622141049328/

Festival 2008 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7421005@N06/sets/72157606951982441/
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