Ruslana beats the weather at 2004 Bloor West Ukrainian Festival (10/17/04)

Ruslana beats the weather at 2004 Bloor West Ukrainian Festival

by Olya Grod

TORONTO - During this year's Bloor West Ukrainian Festival, while the weather on Friday night and during the daytime on Saturday was fantastic, on Saturday night - just as pop star Ruslana was to begin the "Dyki Tantsi" (Wild Dances) show - the sky opened up with a torrential downpour. Regardless, from the moment Ruslana stepped out onto the stage the audience was riveted and not going anywhere. Thousands rocked while the rain poured.

As Ruslana stepped out from the protection of the stage roof, and joined the crowd in the downpour, she proved what everyone already knew: she is a true star. "I want to be with you," "let's not let this bit of rain dampen our spirits," she called out.

And so the show continued with an incredible energy for 90 minutes. No intermission, no short breaks, just song after song and dance after dance.

Over 300,000 people attended the Bloor West Ukrainian Festival in Toronto on August 27-28, setting a new attendance record. The number could easily have reached 400,000 had events schedule for the third day - Sunday, August 29 - not been cancelled due to severe weather warnings, noted the festival's executive director, Raya Shadursky.

The Bloor West festival, now in its eighth year, celebrates by closing down a mile-long section of Bloor Street West - the heart of Toronto's Ukrainian community. It is the vision of the festival committee to offer the largest celebration of Ukrainian spirit in the world - showcasing the best of Ukrainian arts and culture.

The festival kicked off Friday night with the opening on the street of the zabava (dance) and Troyanda Refreshment Gardens, kiosks, food vendors and huge children's midway. The stage shows were very well attended as was the street zabava.

Saturday activities commenced with what is becoming a tradition: the free pancake breakfast for the first 1,000 attendees, sponsored by Buduchnist Credit Union. This was followed by a colorful parade lead by this year's parade marshall, Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy, with judging by Andrij Hladyshevsky of Edmonton, president of The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko; Olya Soroka Striltschuk of Chicago, CEO of Transcenda; and Alex Ling, former chairman of the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Association. The winning entry was Canadian Legion Branch 360 whose members were joined by former members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and a visiting member of Ukraine's armed forces.

The nonstop entertainment on the Jane Street Stage could be seen from afar thanks to the large video screen sponsored by Biovail and Northland Power. Featured were: the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Winnipeg, Suzie Vinnick, Anytchka, Silhouttes Modern Dance Company, Metelytsia Vocal Quartet, Lvivski Muzyky, Dunai Band, the Vanguard Marching and Concert Band, Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Chicago, Zoloty Struny Bandura Kapela, Ukrainian School of Arts, Kyiv Duo, Pid Oblachkom Quartet, Windsor Barvinok Dance Group, bandurist Michael Kostowskyj, Desna Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto and Ukraina Dance Ensemble. The Vranovcan Folklore Ensemble from Slovakia were special guest artists.

In addition to the main stage, the festival had a second youth stage on Windermere Avenue which was sponsored by So-Use Credit Union and TD Canada Trust. This stage provided an opportunity to showcase up and coming talent, as well as offer more performances from those who performed on the Jane Stage.

As in previous years, political notables were in attendance. Judy Sgro brought greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Paul Martin. Newly elected representatives attending the event were Etobicoke-Center Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Parkdale-High Park MP Sarmite Bulte and councilor Bill Saundercook.

Peter Leon, representing the Ontario Trillium Foundation, announced the awarding of a significant grant to the festival in order to develop the volunteer component.

In the opening and closing remarks during the festival, chairman Jurij Klufas thanked all the sponsors, noting that without them, there could be no festival. In particular, recognition was given to Ukrainian Credit Union for sponsorship of Ruslana and to Aerosvit for partial sponsorship of the group's airline tickets. "Kontakt," Northland Power, Acutiy Pooled Funds, Omni Television and the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko were the main stage sponsors.

Next year's festival dates are August 26-28, 2005.

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