November - 2014

Ukrainian Keptar

Ukrainian Keptar

The word "keptar" comes from the Romanian language and can be translated as "chest" (the body part). Keptar is a short sleeveless sheepskin coat (also known as kozhushanka). This kind of garment is typical for all Ukrainian population of the Carpathian Mountains, living both the eastern and the western slopes. Same clothes are worn by the mountain population of Transylvania (aka Semyhorod), Romania and Serbia. Inhabitants of the Bukovyna region decorate their keptars with bea

THE DANCER KNOWN TO THE WHOLE WORLD

THE DANCER KNOWN TO THE WHOLE WORLD

Vasyl Avramenko’s life is a fascinating and tragic story at the same time. He was born March 22, 1895 in the village of Stebliv in Cherkasy region. Participated in the First World War. In 1917 he moved to Kyiv and entered the Mykola Lysenko Music and Drama School, where under the direction of Vasyl Verkhovynets he started studying Ukrainian folk dance. After the Institute he started working in the theater founded by Mykola Sadowski, where he began collecting and recording aut

The symbolism of Kalyna in Ukrainian Culture

The symbolism of Kalyna in Ukrainian Culture

Kalyna (‘калина’ - viburnum) is the ethnic and national symbol of Ukraine, which represents beauty, love, motherhood, blood, the immortality of family, fire, national resurgence, womanhood, life, love for the homeland etc. This is an encoding mechanism in Ukrainian ethnic culture, the color of the ‘nation’s soul’, the core of the Kozak spirit and the symbol of national unity. In early summer viburnum bushes covered with white buds among green leaves resemble a bride in white

PROLISOK. DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE VERY SOURCE OF UKRAINIAN STAGE DANCE

PROLISOK. DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE VERY SOURCE OF UKRAINIAN STAGE DANCE

Prolisok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble Kirovohrad is located in the heart of Ukraine. And it is not surprising that it was here that true Ukrainian stage folk dance was born. Nearby Kirovohrad, one can visit Hamlet ‘Hope’ - the family estate of writer and theater activist Ivan Karpenko-Kary (Tobilevych). Here, his brother, Mykola Sadowski, founded the Ukrainian domestic theater. After joining the theatre troupe Vasyl Verkhovynets brought Ukrainian dance out on stage. Verkhovynets

‘Gerdan’ in Ukrainian folk art

‘Gerdan’ in Ukrainian folk art

History and characteristics Gerdan, sylianka, pletenka, drabynka are all names for beaded necklaces that look like a narrow strip made of colored beads, strung on thread (often horsey thread) or fishing line, forming a colorful geometrical and sometimes floral ornament. Sometimes gerdans were either woolen strips or lace collars made of beads, which in Halychyna, Bukovyna and Transcarpathia women used to adorn the neck or head, and men - hats. Often gerdans are in the form of

THE MASTERS OF BUKOVYNIAN DANCE

THE MASTERS OF BUKOVYNIAN DANCE

The Bukovynian Honored Academic Song and Dance Ensemble was established in November 1944 in the wonderful Bukovynian land that rages distinctive folklore. The Ensemble’s founder and main enthusiast was a local folklorist and composer Hryhoriy Shevchuk. The company’s first choreographer was a Kyiv-born dance professional - Hryhoriy Dykhta. At that time, there was another local ensemble working on the base of the Chernivtsi Philharmonic. The group was directed by choreographer