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Rusalka Proud to Join Chinese Celebration |
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Members
of the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble were thrilled when they
were invuted to participate in the Chinese New Year's
celebrations, with members of the Chinese community on January
8th, 2005 at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre.
"The Ensemble was
honoured to participate", said Rusalka Board Chairwoman, Honnia
Tarasiuk. "It was wonderful to see this event turned into a
multi-cultural celebration".
Rusalka performed
a traditional Ukrainian Hopak, which has a group of men
comparing their strength and flexibility through jumps and kicks
and women performing intricate footwork and spins.
Rusalka received a
warm welcome by the other performers, and were eager to join the
celebrations.
"It was an amazing
experience for the dancers," said Tarasiuk. "The Chinese
celebration was very unique from Ukrainian celebrations. They
welcomed us with foods, and gave each of the dancers a flower at
the conclusion of the show. The stage was decorated in an
elaborate way, with lanterns and streamers. It was all so
beautiful."
Members of the
Ensemble were happy with the response to their performance.
"As we were
leaving a group of young girls stopped a couple of the dancers
to tell us that the Ukrainian dancers were so cool," laughed
Rusalka dancer Felica Wasylowski. "That was the best response we
could have asked for. In all my years in Ukrainian dance, I have
never heard anyone call Ukrainian dance cool! That was a very
special moment for us."
The members of
Rusalka thank the Manitoba Great Wall Performing Arts Inc. for
inviting them to be a part of their celebration.
"This was a
wonderful event, and we hope to perform together again," said
Tarasiuk. "I hope the inclusion of other cultures into the
Chinese New Year's celebration will become a new tradition for
them, and that other cultural groups across the city get to be a
part of this experience."
