Slava Modern Dance Company debuts at Cleveland Public Theater

by Nadia Tarnawsky and Michael Flohr

CLEVELAND - As the lights slowly come up in the intimate hall, the sounds of cello and voice combine as a trio of dancers enter into the space. A distant village comes to life as the orchestration builds. Strong vocals, sung in Ukrainian, fill the hall as dancer/choreographer Natalie M. Kapeluck becomes a bride preparing to leave her family and friends. The dance motifs represent the braiding of the girl's hair, the placing of the yoke upon the bride and groom, the parting of a young girl and her childhood friends. She is not a part of them anymore.

These dance images were seen at Cleveland Public Theater in December 2002, when Ms. Kapeluck and members of the newly formed Slava Modern Dance Company performed as part of the Theater's Vaudeville Night. Upon completion of the piece, the audience cheered and applauded enthusiastically for these performers. This was not the first time that Cleveland audiences had warmly received Ms. Kapeluck's choreography.

Ms. Kapeluck served as choreographer and dancer for MN2 Productions' "Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors," a dance-theater piece based on the Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky novel of the same name which premiered at Cleveland Public Theatre in January of 2002. Ms. Kapeluck was also instrumental as choreographer and dancer in the premiere of "Ancestral Voices," another MN2 Production, which took place at INSIDE Gallery in 2000.

She serves as resident choreographer at Pittsburgh's Southwest Ballet and is in her seventh season as a dancer with the Mary Miller Dance Company. Ms. Kapeluck has also created choreography for the Kyiv Ukrainian Dance Ensemble since her appointment as director. With all of this experience behind her, she decided to channel her artistic energies into a company of her own - the Slava Modern Dance Company.

Ms. Kapeluck wanted a name for her company that reflected her beliefs and heritage - not just another company named after its choreographer and founder. She is proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and "slava" is a word that embodies her feelings about her culture, beliefs and life work. She added that it is also a word that reflects all that she desires her ensemble to be. "Slava" is a Ukrainian word that means "glory." This word serves a dual purpose. It is a testament to Ms. Kapeluck's ethnic heritage, as well as a reflection of the depths and strength of her Ukrainian Orthodox faith. Ms. Kapeluck strives for her work to be a means of giving glory to God. This work will come to fruition in an evening of dance choreographed by Ms. Kapeluck at Cleveland Public Theater.

It is fitting that Cleveland Public Theater is the venue for this dance concert. Cleveland Public Theater, or CPT, has become a space known for contemporary theater and dance events. It is a space that continues to renovate and open new theaters, all the while pushing the boundaries of theater and dance in Cleveland.

The works to be presented originated as three separate pieces that were set on dancers with Pittsburgh's Southwest Ballet Company. These modern dance works have been reworked and expanded for the dancers of Slava as a further development of the choreographer's vision. "Gracias a la Vida," "Static" and "Miranda" will be performed. MorrisonDance, a Cleveland based modern dance company, will present two works in the concert: a work in progress by Sarah Morrison, director of MorrisonDance, and a work choreographed for MorrisonDance by Ms. Kapeluck.

Much like the young bride preparing for a new life with her husband, Ms. Kapeluck has taken the first steps in her life with this new company. The Slava Modern Dance Company will begin this journey with two concerts on Saturday, March 15, at Cleveland Public Theater's Mainstage Theater at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. CPT is located at 6409 Detroit Ave. in Cleveland. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students and seniors and may be reserved by calling (216) 749-0060 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Nadia Tarnawsky is a faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Michael Flohr is a freelance director and union musician. The couple resides in Cleveland.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 9, 2003, No. 10, Vol. LXXI

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