UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS

SUM debutante ball is 40th annual for youth association

by Orest Kozicky

SECAUCUS, N.J. - The Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) sponsored its 40th annual Debutante Ball at the Secaucus-Meadowlands Crowne Plaza Hotel in New Jersey on February 14. The ball is a traditional affair at which each debutante is formally presented to the community as a young lady, having attained the milestone of her 16th birthday.

Genya Kuzmowycz-Blahy, who was appointed by the national board of SUM to head the ball's organizing committee, formally opened the ceremonies and welcomed the debutantes and the 580 family members and guests. After the opening prayer was conducted by the Very Rev. Bohdan Danylo, the emcees, Marta Kolinsky-Boyko and Pavlo Figol, began the presentation of each of the 19 debutantes individually.

After an affectionate exchange with her parents, each debutante was joined by her escort and formally introduced while strolling through the center of the ballroom and was heartily welcomed by the guests.

This year's debutantes included Larysa Balko (SUM branch in Yonkers, N.Y.) escorted by Peter Drobenko, Cassandra Bytz (Whippany, N.J.) escorted by Volodya Yurcheniuk, Christina Diduch (Passaic, N.J.) escorted by Peter Podobinsky, Laura Diduch (Passaic) escorted by Stefan Porada, Christine Harhaj (New York) escorted by Andrew Paska, Natalie Horbachevsky (Yonkers) escorted by Andrew Bzowyckyj, Orysia Kozicky (Yonkers) escorted by Andrew Medwid, Natalya Kuzewycz (Philadelphia) escorted by Mathew Johnson, Natalia Kuziw (Passaic) escorted by Roman Palylyk, Lida Nahorniak (Irvington, N.J.) escorted by Philip Usilowycz, Tamara Padko (Passaic) escorted by Peter Kovak, Alexandra Perich (Yonkers) escorted by Damian Shchur, Tatiana Rebensky (Philadelphia) escorted by Roman Kebalo, Melanie Romaniw (Hartford, Conn.) escorted by Markian Kolinsky, Bohdanna Gensior-Sadnytsky (Goshen, N.Y.) escorted by Yuriy Romaniw, Daria Szafran (Hartford) escorted by Max Say, Tracy Torhan (unaffiliated) escorted by Taras Kulynych, Natalie Yaworsky (Philadel-phia) escorted by Christopher Gojdycz and Tania Zurawski (Passaic) escorted by Danylo Vitek.

Bohdan Harhaj, the president of SUM's national executive board, congratulated and warmly addressed the debutantes. The 19 young couples then delighted the audience with an exquisite minuet choreographed by balletmaster Hryhorij Momot. Each debutante then joined her father in a heartwarming waltz.

An evening of lively dancing to the music of Zolota Bulava of Montreal and Na Zdorovia of Yonkers followed and culminated in a kolomyika that lasted over 30 minutes.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the debutante ball, a reunion of all previous and current debutantes followed, providing an opportunity for a memorable photograph.

Each guest received a program booklet summarizing each debutante's accomplishments and future plans.

The organizing committee for the event included: Ms. Kuzmowycz-Blahy, the emcees, Ms. Kolinsky-Boyko and Mr. Figol, and members Lida Mykytyn, Petro Kosciolek, Natalka Kudryk, Adrianna Rudyk, Ircia Liber and Laryssa Blahy.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 28, 2004, No. 13, Vol. LXXII

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