Steinbach dancers to perform in Winnipeg

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This article was published 10/12/2023 (528 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Steinbach area dancers will perform at a Ukrainian Christmas concert in Winnipeg this month with the hope of sharing Ukrainian culture with a wider audience.

Emily Hill and Alyssa Romaniuk are two Ukrainian dancers with the Anola based dance troupe Selo Ukrainian Dancers. They will be dancing with an ensemble of 16 dancers backed by the O. Koshetz Ukrainian Choir during the Keeping the Spirit: A Ukrainian Christmas Celebration.

Hill, who currently lives in Grunthal, began dancing at a very young age with the encouragement of her baba, or grandmother.

“I like the ability to express myself through dance and also really celebrate the culture. I think being a part of this dance group is really special because we really focus on the traditions of Ukrainian culture and it so fulfilling dancing,” she said.

The 20-year-old architectural student said her favourite Ukrainian tradition is malanka (Ukrainian New Year) where there’s lots of dancing, singing, and food. She said Ukrainian culture is full of traditions especially Ukrainian Christmas which is showcased at the Christmas show.

“I’m so excited for it, it’s going to be amazing. I think the show is important to me because I get a chance to be a part of Ukrainian traditions through dance. It really reminds me of Christmas with my baba and gets me really excited and in the mood for Christmas. It’s really special to be a part of a dance group that is celebrating the first time with a choir. It’s been really interesting, but really fun.”

Seventeen-year-old Romaniuk has been with the Selo for a year but has been dancing for more than 10 years. While she’s mostly French she and her family thought it was important to celebrate the Ukrainian side of her heritage.

“I want them to know that the Ukrainian culture is still very much vibrant to this day despite the horrible things that are happening in Ukraine. I would like people to educate themselves on how amazing this culture is,” she said.

Keeping the Spirit centers around a Ukrainian family moving to Canada and worrying if they’ll be able to keep their Ukrainian traditions alive in their new country. When they arrive they realize that they can as they celebrate the Christmas season.

“Some of the traditions that we are able to feature in the show is this St. Nicolas Day so the kids get (presents) put…inside their shoes and Christmas Eve with the 12 meatless and (non-dairy) dishes, the sheaf of wheat that symbolizes the sprits of our ancestors, and as they look for the first star in the night and they do talk a little bit about malanka which is Ukrainian new year. So, it just puts kind of Christmas as a show and how the Ukrainian family are able to continue their traditions while a 60-person choir sings while we dance. It’s quite an amazing thing.”

Artistic director Hannah Picklyk said the storyline is not time specific so the immigrants can be those who arrived in Canada 100 years ago or yesterday. She hopes that everyone can connect to the show in their own way and connect to the Ukrainian heritage.

“I want people to feel welcomed into the culture and I want it to inspire people to dive deeper into it and celebrate how they can. Go into the Christmas season with a really joyful heart.”

Keeping the Spirit will play at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 16. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.