That’s a wrap.
On April 28, the Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club concluded another year with their 42nd annual year-end performance.
Volunteer and former dancer Brian Popowich said it takes a lot of hard work for each of the 52 dancers to prepare for the show.
“They worked all year to prepare for the show,” Popowich said. “It also takes a lot of practice to prepare.”
He added that the work involved does not always include practicing their dance routine.
“Costume changing is essential,” said Popowich. “Dduring a performance, some often perform five dances, so it’s extremely important to co-ordinate any costume changes during the show, and to make sure the dance runs as smooth as possible.”
He adds that make-up is just as important as well.
“Everybody gets ready backstage,” he said. “They stretch, they get together in their groups, and pump themselves up for a show.”
A lot of the dancers begin performing at a very young age.
Nineteen-year-old Natasha Geleta said she first starting dancing at the age of three, and after all these years, she still enjoys doing it.
“Each day is different,” Geleta said. “You get to learn new steps and new combos, and sometimes you get to travel to new places, and meet people from around the world.”
Geleta mentioned the group even got to go to Ukraine a couple of years ago.
“Once you move up into a dance company, you get to travel a lot more,” she said. “They go to the Ukraine more frequently to learn about their culture, as well as a whole bunch of new stuff.”
Geleta is currently a member of the Richka dancers, an elite group within the Athabasca club which is open for people ages 16 and up.
Another one of the dancers, 15-year-old Alisa Gauthier-Schulte, returned to the sport two years ago after a five-year break.
“My family had moved up to Fort McMurray at the time, and they unfortunately didn’t have a Ukrainian dance group up there,” Gauthier-Schulte said.
The family ended up moving back to town in 2016, and she said that she immediately signed back up.
“Being part of the group is like being part of a family,” Gauthier-Schulte continued. “We all get together like brothers and sisters twice a week, and just have fun with the teamwork involved.”
The club performed all over the province this year, including in Lloydminster, Vermilion, Fort Saskatchewan and Calgary.
On May 25-26, the Richka dancers will be heading to the First Annual Ukrainian Festival in Edmonton to perform.
“They’ll be performing at Borden Park within the city,” said Popowich. “It will be a great opportunity for the group to head out there and showcase their skills.”
The dancers played two shows. The first one went at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, and the other at 7 p.m. in the evening.
To join the Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club, you can check out their Facebook page, or email Lyneve Freh, at [email protected]. You can also sign-up at the Athabasca’s Community Registration Night being held in September.
