Ukrainian Debutante Balls

Eleven young ladies debut at annual Chervona Kalyna Ball

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Plast community on January 27 presented 11 debutantes at the annual Chervona Kalyna Ball, held at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in New Jersey.

Family members and guests came from near and far to witness these young women walk onto the dance floor and take part in the choreographed promenade, in which the girls exhibited their long white dresses.

"I enjoyed seeing how happy everyone was, it didn't seem like anyone brought any worries into the hall. It was just great when we walked in - the smiles and all," said Tatiana Kuzmowycz, one of the debutantes. Ms. Kuzmowycz believes that the debutante balls are a tradition worth preserving. "I think our generation of Ukrainians is all about continuing tradition - we continue being involved in Plast, and Ukrainian school because it is something that our parents and grandparents grew up with," she said.

The debutantes gathered from around the tri-state area; New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and even as far away as Germany. Among the debutantes were: Natalie Andrejko, Tatiana Woroch, Natalia Walczuk, Natalia Halatyn, Maria Didorenko, Nina Kolcio-Matijcio, Tatiana Kuzmowycz, Orysia Kuts, Ivanna Lopukh, Motria Rudko and Christina Salabay. Their escorts hailed from various parts of the United States, as well as abroad, from London and Munich.

The tradition of the Chervona Kalyna Ball originated in Lviv, in the 1920s, was interrupted during World War II and was re-established in New York City in 1959.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 29, 2001, No. 17, Vol. LXIX

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