Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Chicago heads to Ukraine (07/13/03)

Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Chicago heads to Ukraine

by Michael Wojtychiw

CHICAGO - Anatole France, one of the greatest French writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries once wrote, "To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe." This past year the Hromovytsia Ukrainian dance ensemble of Ss. Volodymyr and Olha Church in Chicago will realize their dream: to dance in Ukraine. These dancers believed that with hard work they could plan to make this dream come true, and now it is going to become a reality.

Dance imitates life: smile, twirl, balance, leap, fall down, pick yourself up and start again. To artistically direct these movements, the group has a talented, energetic and experienced dancer, Roxana Dykyj-Pylypczak, as its head choreographer.

Ms. Dykyj-Pylypczak was born and raised in Chicago, yet she has the heart and soul of a dancer born in Ukraine. Since the age of 8, she has studied and performed Ukrainian dance. She began her training in 1966 with Mr. and Mrs. Lubomyr Cepynsky, and trained for many years with internationally recognized prima ballerina and choreographer Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky. Her other Ukrainian instructors included Vadim Sulima, Valentina Pereyaslavets and Taras Kalba. She received ballet, character and jazz training at the Ruth Page Foundation, Ellis DuBoulay School of Dance, Rozak Studio, Lou Conte Studio and Keith Allison School of Dance.

Hromovytsia, an ensemble of approximately 60 dancers, will be touring Ukraine with 48 of its finest dancers. This group of talented young men and women, ranging in age from 15 to 35, loves to dance. The majority of them have studied many forms of dance - traditional Ukrainian, ballet, jazz and character, to name a few. Their passion and dedication has made them a revered part of the Ukrainian arts community in Chicago and in other cities in the United States and Canada.

Now Hromovytsia is taking its talent beyond these communities to Ukraine, the land of its dancers' parents and grandparents.

This past year was a year of commitment. The group participated in long three-day weekend rehearsals, and planned, organized, and attended many fund-raising events for the tour. Members of the Ukrainian community of Chicago supported Hromovytsia and demonstrated their generosity and enthusiasm to help the group meet its goal, for which the Hromovytsia dancers will be eternally grateful.

All of the ensemble's efforts reached a climax on May 10 as Hromovytsia kicked off its Ukraine tour with a concert at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Ill., before a full house. The atmosphere was unbelievable - the adrenaline of the dancers was pumping. As the curtain opened for the first number, "Pryvit," the audience heard thunder and saw silhouettes of the mighty Kozak warriors with spears. This brought the audience to a frenzy as they applauded the spectacular sight.

Under the direction of Ms. Dykyj-Pylypczak, the dancers presented an innovative blend of traditional Ukrainian dances, as seen in a medley from the Kyiv, Lemko, Boyko, Bukovyna and Volyn regions. They explored different genres of dance in an American medley - jazz, hip-hop, salsa and swing. A polka suite, which reflected four different exuberant styles, was performed.

And, what would a Ukrainian dance concert be without a theatrical dance number? In "Hutsul Wedding," Hromovytsia proved that not only could it present an audience with a unique entertainment experience through dance but also through theater as visual art. Another Hutsul dance number, "Hutsul Jazz," was less traditional; it fuses influences from Ukrainian folkloric dance with ballet and modern jazz. This graceful cutting edge choreography incorporates many lifts into the dance. The lively music for this number was composed by Wasyl Popadiuk, a world-renowned violinist from Ukraine who now resides in Canada.

Mr. Popadiuk was also one of the guest performers at this momentous concert. The young virtuoso left the audience breathless as he performed some of his own compositions and some favorite Ukrainian melodies. Mr. Popadiuk has a unique style of violin playing that is very vibrant and melodic. His music was enjoyed by young and old, and even the non-Ukrainian members of the audience enjoyed his spectacular performance.

The students of the Ukrainian School of Ballet and Folk Dance of Ss. Volodymyr and Olha parish also were guest performers for the concert. This group of young dancers between the ages of 5 and 14 under the artistic directorship of Marta Horodylowsky-Kozyckyj and Ms. Dykyj-Pylypczak danced four numbers. These dancers are the future of Hromovytsia. They enthusiastically performed: "Little Hutsul Dancers," "Let's Dance," "The Shawl Dance," and "Kozachok."

For the finale, Hromovytsia performed the jewel of all Ukrainian dances, the "Hopak." The choreography was spectacular; everybody in the audience came alive as they kept the beat for the dancers with their applause. The adrenaline of the dancers was flowing at full force; everyone in the hall could feel it. Audience members rose to their feet to show their appreciation for an awesome performance.

Hromovytsia embarked on its 17-day tour of Ukraine on July 11. The troupe will be performing in six cities: Kyiv (July 14), Lviv (July 17), Ternopil (July 18), Kalush (July 20), Kolomyia (July 21) and Uzhhorod (July 24). The last stop of the trip is Budapest, from where the group returns to Chicago on July 28.

This tour will be memorable for all of the dancers and the artistic director/head choreographer also because more than half of the ensemble, including Ms. Dykyj-Pylypczak, has never visited Ukraine. When asked about her thoughts regarding the trip to Ukraine, Ms. Dykyj-Pylypczak replied: "When I was 6, I had the chance to see the Virsky ensemble at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. Watching the men with their strength and the women with their grace, the costumes, and the music, the whole feeling of what they are doing and who they are as Ukrainians, was so rich and powerful that it lit a fire within me. I wanted to create a company with as much pride and enthusiasm as I saw in Virsky - to show how we felt about ourselves, our nationality and what we were doing. It took me 20 years to build up the courage to bring a dance troupe to Ukraine and show what we have accomplished and how good our dancing can be."

All of the dancers are excited about visiting the homeland of their families. All of the dancers had their own reasons for going to Ukraine.

Tusia Bryan, 17, explains: "I'm looking forward to going to Ukraine, because I grew up listening to my grandmother talk about Ukraine. Now, I finally have the opportunity to see it with my own eyes. I am also looking forward to meeting my family that lives there."

Most of the dancers are first- and second-generation Ukrainians. Many of the first-timers have been looking forward to meeting their families for a long time.

Another second-generation Ukrainian, Adriana Popowycz, who is 16, related: "The thing that intrigues me the most about our trip to Ukraine is that I will finally be able to see Ukraine up close and personal. Being born in the United States, I could only see pictures or read about it. I finally get to see it for myself, and while doing something that I love to do - dance."

Hromovytsia's motto has now become "Ukraine or bust!"

Hromovytsia's dancers are: Toma Antonovych, Ivanka Bryan, Victoria Bryan, Peter Byskosh, Daria Chylak, Bohdanka Czerniak, Tamara Demian-chuk, Danchyk Demus, Lyudmila Dmytriv, Michelle Dzulynsky, Zoryana Grabova, Vera Halicki, Lida Halicki, Christina Hanowsky, Halia Hanowsky, Jeremy Hrynewycz, Adyo Hulyk, Greg Karawan, Roxolana Kozyckyj, Vasyl Kukuruza, Nadia Kukuruza, Tania Kuropas, Olga Lebedyeva, Danylo Melnyk, Liliana Minkowycz, Mark Miskewitch, Tania Petrasz, Yuri Petrasz, Adriana Popowycz, Roman Pylypczak, Svityk Pylypczak, Ania Sabchyshyn, Olecia Shalak, Greg Sidelnik, Nina Skubiak, Adia Striltschuk, Daniel Tchoryk, Greg Terlecky, Adya Trusewych, Nazar Vovk, Angie Watral, Michael Watral, Mark Wasylyszyn, Michael Wojtychiw, Milia Wojtychiw, and Zoryana Yavorska.

| Home Page |