Ukrainian dance in Australia
Encyclopedia
Ukrainian dance
refers to dance as part of Ukrainian culture in Australia
. After the first main wave of Ukrainian immigrants
came to Australia after World War II
, the Ukrainian community
in Australia became active in the formation of a variety of cultural organizations, including choirs, folk dancing groups, and arts organisations.
Outside of Ukraine Vasyl Avramenko
, building on Vasyl Verkhovynets
' work, developed the "Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dance
" art form in the Ukrainian diaspora
. In the 1960s, he visited Australia and experienced similar successes to those in North America, in developing dancers and in promoting the Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dance style which he and Verkhovynets had pioneered. Most of Avramenko's influence in Australia stemmed from his massive workshops, which were attended by students of various ages.
. Tyrawski had studied and performed professionally in Ukraine, and continued to teach Ukrainian dance in Australia for almost fifty years.
At its peak in the 1980s, the Veselka ensemble had four groups, with ages 4–25 years, with a total of 57 male and female dancers, a choreographer (Tyrawski), director (Ivan Shestowsky), three costume designers, a technical officer and administrative staff. Another dance ensemble formed in Sydney in 1967 was "Zahrava". It consists of junior, intermediate and senior groups, with 24 dancers and musicians, spanning ages 5–35. For many years its choreographer was Rita Dubovsky. Veselka has performed at the Shell National Folkloric Festival
s at the Sydney Opera House
, the "Carnivale" at Government House, Sydney, suburban cultural festivals, clubs, weddings and business functions. The ensemble has also performed outside of Sydney including Canberra, Melbourne, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Perth and has also toured Ukraine, Canada and the USA.
The Cossack Brothers were formed in 1996 by Taras Galas. They have performed in many Australian venues and on Australian television, as well as internationally.
, Australia with her husband in 1949, after having performed with numerous dance companies in Ukraine. After working extensively with the West Australian Ballet
and the Australian Ballet School
, she founded and became artistic director and resident choreographer of the Kolobok Dance Company in Melbourne
in 1970, in the wake of successful Australian tours by various international folk dance companies. Kolobok's goal was to give artistic expression to the varied dance traditions brought to Australia by Ukrainians and other immigrants.
Another Melbourne dance ensemble was "Dorishka", under the direction of Irene Zaleskyj, who studied drama and worked in the theatre in Lviv
, Ukraine
, and Mittenwald
, Germany
. The ensemble consisted of four groups of dancers, numbering between 45–60, and ranging in age from 5 to mid twenties.
The Verchovyna Ukrainian Youth Association Dance Ensemble originated in the 1950s under the artistic directorship of Yaroslav Bulka one of the pioneers of Ukrainian Folk dancing in Melbourne. Verchovyna has performed in major cities along the eastern, western and southern seaboards of Australia as well as in regional Australia, in renowned venues such as the Melbourne Concert Hall and the National Theatre. In 1994, Verchovyna where invited to participate in the "Folklorama
" Festival in Winnipeg
, Verchovyna also gave independent concerts in Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton and Toronto.
The "Kuban Cossacks" dance troupe was formed in 1956 in Melbourne, and led by Wasyl and Lilly Kowalenko, achieved international success for their performances of Ukrainian cossack dances and songs. By 1989 the troupe had appeared in 13,000 live shows in 30 countries, and had appeared on 160 television shows.
in 1951, and ran that ensemble and others almost three decades. Kania had been trained in Ukrainian dance in his hometown of Jarosław, Poland
. Consisting of 8 to 10 dancers and piano accompaniment, they performed to critical acclaim at the Capitol Theatre, Perth in 1952, as part of a concert in aid of the United Nations Forces in Korea. During this period, a second dance group was formed in Melville in Perth. The Melville Ukrainian Dancing Group was also directed by Vladimir Kania, and continued successfully south of the Swan river
for many years.
Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers is an independent dance company formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1991. It consists of 21 dancers (10 female, 11 male), with average ages between 17–23.
Under the instruction of Father Wolodymyr Kalinecki, the Vohon Ukrainian Cossack Dance Group was formed in Perth. The group has dancers aged 13–17. The group performed live on community television, and Australia-wide on SBS Television.
Ukrainian dance
Ukrainian dance refers to the traditional folk dances of the peoples of Ukraine.Today, Ukrainian dance is primarily represented by what ethnographers, folklorists and dance historians refer to as "Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dances" , which are stylized representations of traditional dances and their...
refers to dance as part of Ukrainian culture in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. After the first main wave of Ukrainian immigrants
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
came to Australia after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Ukrainian community
Ukrainian Australian
The Ukrainians are an ethnic minority in Australia, numbering about 20,000 people, hence making up 0.16% of the total population. Currently, the main concentrations of Ukrainians are located in Melbourne and Sydney.- History :...
in Australia became active in the formation of a variety of cultural organizations, including choirs, folk dancing groups, and arts organisations.
Outside of Ukraine Vasyl Avramenko
Vasyl Avramenko
Vasyl Kyrylovych Avramenko was a Ukrainian actor, dancer, choreographer, balletmaster, director, and film producer, credited with spreading Ukrainian folk dance across the world...
, building on Vasyl Verkhovynets
Vasyl Verkhovynets
Vasyl' Mykolayovych Verkhovynets was an actor, conductor, voice teacher, amateur musicologist, balletmaster, choreographer and dance ethnographer He is credited for fundamentally altering the course of Ukrainian dance by devising a method of transcribing dance to paper, recording traditional...
' work, developed the "Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dance
Ukrainian dance
Ukrainian dance refers to the traditional folk dances of the peoples of Ukraine.Today, Ukrainian dance is primarily represented by what ethnographers, folklorists and dance historians refer to as "Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dances" , which are stylized representations of traditional dances and their...
" art form in the Ukrainian diaspora
Ukrainian diaspora
The Ukrainian diaspora is the global community of ethnic Ukrainians, especially those who maintain some kind of connection, even if ephemeral, to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Ukrainian national identity within their own local community.-1608 To 1880:After the loss...
. In the 1960s, he visited Australia and experienced similar successes to those in North America, in developing dancers and in promoting the Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dance style which he and Verkhovynets had pioneered. Most of Avramenko's influence in Australia stemmed from his massive workshops, which were attended by students of various ages.
Sydney, NSW
Another early innovator in Australia was Natalia Tyrawski, who founded the Ukrainian National Ballet (later renamed the "Veselka" Ukrainian Dance Ensemble) in 1952 in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Tyrawski had studied and performed professionally in Ukraine, and continued to teach Ukrainian dance in Australia for almost fifty years.
Shell National Folkloric Festival
Shell National Folkloric Festival was an annual ethnic folk festival held in Australia. Sponsored by the Shell Group of Companies with a grant of $50,000, the first Shell National Folkloric Festival was held at the Concert Hall during the opening celebrations of the Sydney Opera House in 1973.In...
s at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, the "Carnivale" at Government House, Sydney, suburban cultural festivals, clubs, weddings and business functions. The ensemble has also performed outside of Sydney including Canberra, Melbourne, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Perth and has also toured Ukraine, Canada and the USA.
The Cossack Brothers were formed in 1996 by Taras Galas. They have performed in many Australian venues and on Australian television, as well as internationally.
Melbourne, Victoria
Marina Berezowsky moved to PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia with her husband in 1949, after having performed with numerous dance companies in Ukraine. After working extensively with the West Australian Ballet
West Australian Ballet
The West Australian Ballet is the premier ballet dance company of Western Australia and is based in Perth at His Majesty's Theatre, Western Australia. The company was founded in 1952 by Madame Kira Bousloff and is one of the oldest ballet companies in Australia. Artistic directors have included...
and the Australian Ballet School
Australian Ballet School
The Australian Ballet School was founded in 1964 as the primary training facility for The Australian Ballet by Dame Margaret Scott. It is part of the Australian Ballet Centre, which is located in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, Southbank in Melbourne, Victoria...
, she founded and became artistic director and resident choreographer of the Kolobok Dance Company in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1970, in the wake of successful Australian tours by various international folk dance companies. Kolobok's goal was to give artistic expression to the varied dance traditions brought to Australia by Ukrainians and other immigrants.
Another Melbourne dance ensemble was "Dorishka", under the direction of Irene Zaleskyj, who studied drama and worked in the theatre in Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and Mittenwald
Mittenwald
Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.-Geography:Mittenwald is located approx. 16 kilometers to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The ensemble consisted of four groups of dancers, numbering between 45–60, and ranging in age from 5 to mid twenties.
The Verchovyna Ukrainian Youth Association Dance Ensemble originated in the 1950s under the artistic directorship of Yaroslav Bulka one of the pioneers of Ukrainian Folk dancing in Melbourne. Verchovyna has performed in major cities along the eastern, western and southern seaboards of Australia as well as in regional Australia, in renowned venues such as the Melbourne Concert Hall and the National Theatre. In 1994, Verchovyna where invited to participate in the "Folklorama
Folklorama
Folklorama is an event that runs for two weeks each August in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Folklorama is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in the world...
" Festival in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Verchovyna also gave independent concerts in Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton and Toronto.
The "Kuban Cossacks" dance troupe was formed in 1956 in Melbourne, and led by Wasyl and Lilly Kowalenko, achieved international success for their performances of Ukrainian cossack dances and songs. By 1989 the troupe had appeared in 13,000 live shows in 30 countries, and had appeared on 160 television shows.
Perth, Western Australia
One of the leading figures in the instruction of Ukrainian dance in Australia was Vladimir Kania, who organized his first adult dance ensemble "Poltava" in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1951, and ran that ensemble and others almost three decades. Kania had been trained in Ukrainian dance in his hometown of Jarosław, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Consisting of 8 to 10 dancers and piano accompaniment, they performed to critical acclaim at the Capitol Theatre, Perth in 1952, as part of a concert in aid of the United Nations Forces in Korea. During this period, a second dance group was formed in Melville in Perth. The Melville Ukrainian Dancing Group was also directed by Vladimir Kania, and continued successfully south of the Swan river
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
for many years.
Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers is an independent dance company formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1991. It consists of 21 dancers (10 female, 11 male), with average ages between 17–23.
Under the instruction of Father Wolodymyr Kalinecki, the Vohon Ukrainian Cossack Dance Group was formed in Perth. The group has dancers aged 13–17. The group performed live on community television, and Australia-wide on SBS Television.