Voloshky Dance Academy offers top-notch instructors for serious dancers (05/01/05)

A Ukrainian Summer: where to go, what to do...

Voloshky Dance Academy offers top-notch instructors for serious dancers

by Larissa Steinhagen

HORSHAM, Pa. - Attention dancers! Do not miss out on the opportunity to attend our nation's premier summer training program for Ukrainian character dance. The highly acclaimed Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Academy, celebrating its seventh year, will once again bring top-notch instructors and performers from the Virsky Ukrainian Dance Company of Kyiv to give aspiring dancers an authentic Ukrainian cultural and dance experience. Many who have seen Virsky's North American tour this past fall will now have the unique opportunity to actually work with and train under these renowned instructors and performers.

The academy's intensive program is designed for dancers who have ability and are ready to excel, and will include full-time classes in character, ballet, choreography and performance technique. Academy students have substantial training and are prepared to work hard for two weeks, thriving on a rigorous schedule of eight hours of classes daily. As a rule, they are extremely motivated and enthusiastic, coming from all over North America.

The academy goes to great lengths to obtain the highest caliber instructors from Ukraine, who represent the best in their field.

Stepan Zabredowsky is the dean of faculty and professor at the National Cultural University in Kyiv, and specializes in the methodology of teaching techniques for Ukrainian dance at a professional level. Most recently, he toured Switzerland and Italy as the artistic director of the Prolit Dance Company. He will teach classes in character and choreography at the academy.

Instructor Victoria Shumilova is a national artist and current soloist with the Virsky National Ensemble of Ukraine. Her graceful talent was prominently featured during the most recent Virsky North American tour in 2004. She will teach classes in ballet, character and choreography to female students. Ms. Shumilova will share the trade secrets and expertise of a current Virsky star.

Victor Guzeyev, concertmaster with the Virsky Ensemble Symphony Orchestra, will provide musical accompaniment for all classes and performances. He specializes in Ukrainian music for character dance classes.

Instructors' assistants Larissa Steinhagen, Mark Kalyta and Matej Korzeniowski are senior dancers with the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Jenkintown, Pa. (near Philadelphia), and all have each received teaching certificates in Ukrainian dance pedagogy from the Kirovohrad Ukrainian Dance Complex in 2003. Their studies in Kirovohrad included training in dance history, theory, technique, choreographic process, traditional costuming and music. They were accompanied by 10 other Voloshky Ensemble members who also completed the training program. The project was made possible by a grant to Voloshky from Dance Advance, a program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by Drexel University.

The academy will also include counselors Lada Pastushak and Alex Knihnicky, also dancers of the Voloshky Ensemble.

The choreographies taught at the academy cover various regions of Ukraine and are technically difficult and artistically challenging; they vary from year to year. Classes are typically conducted in Ukrainian, though students who do not understand Ukrainian have no trouble following - proving the adage that dance is a universal language.

The two-week academy, running August 7-21, is sponsored by the School of the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. The 2005 academy will be held at the Tryzub Ukrainian American Sports Center in Horsham, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia.

This will be the second year that the beautiful sprawling acres of Tryzubivka will host the academy. Last year's academy popularly featured fine hotel accommodations with a hot tub for soaking sore muscles. In addition, Voloshky's hand-picked chefs prepared every meal from scratch, giving much-needed nutrition to sustain energy and endurance required for classes.

The two-week program will culminate with a performance by the academy participants on August 21 at the enormously popular Ukrainian Independence Day Festival at Tryzub. Another exciting performance is planned in conjunction with the Voloshky Ensemble. And, an off-site performance also is being coordinated for the second week of the academy.

Classes will be small and enrollment limited in order to allow for maximum individual attention. Therefore, the academy directors recommend early registration to ensure a spot. Applicants must be at least 8 years old and have a minimum of two years' dance experience. Classes will be arranged according to age and ability level.

The cost of the two-week academy is $750, which includes class fees, costumes, and room and board. The deadline for registration is June 15. A $75 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a place at this year's academy.

To request a registration packet or for more information, readers may call Taras Lewyckyj at (215) 763-8500 or e-mail [email protected].

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