New festival, dubbed Ukrainian Zabava, to be held in Toronto (08/21/05)

New festival, dubbed Ukrainian Zabava, to be held in Toronto

TORONTO - Ukrainian Zabava, a new summer festival slated for September 2-5, presents the best of Ukrainian-Canadian culture in the realms of music, food, dance, film and more. Exploring folkloric and contemporary Ukrainian culture worldwide, Toronto's Harbourfront Center will present Ukrainian Zabava in partnership with the Ukrainian Culture Festival. Admission is free to all events.

Highlights will include a late-night cabaret with hilarious Air Farce comedy troupe veteran Luba Goy, and tasty food with world-renowned chef Ken Kostick as he prepares a Ukrainian-Canadian fusion meal. Kyiv Photographer Kyrylo Kysliakov will present the Canadian premiere of his critically acclaimed exhibit "Faces of the Orange Revolution," and director Oles Sanin's Academy Award-nominated film "Mamay."

Ukrainian Zabava will present a unique range of both traditional contemporary and Ukrainian music. It will start with beautiful a cappella songs by the Metelytsia Vocal Ensemble of Toronto, followed by Michael Kostowskyj's performance on the bandura, the stringed national instrument of Ukraine. Then Toronto's violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk will spice things up with his genre-defying group Papa Duke, which combines traditional Slavic and gypsy music with classic pop and jazz. Another musical mix will be offered by Washington, D.C.'s, Scythian Band (who effortlessly fuse Celtic and Ukrainian styles), while The Kubasonics of Edmonton combine clever Canadian-inspired humor with talented renditions of classic Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian folk songs.

The performances will continue with the Youth Ensemble Prolisok and Montreal's Carpathians Musical Ensemble, both giving inspiring performances of Ukrainian music. Vocalist Oleh Buncha will grace the stage with his beautiful voice, while the Pid Oblachkom Musical and Vocal Ensemble performs contemporary sounds from Ukraine.

New exhibits, including one curated by Darka Griffin and featuring the work of five Ukrainian Canadian artists will have a distinctly Ukrainian flare. In addition, Kyiv photographer Kyrylo Kysliakov will present the Canadian premiere of his New York exhibition "Faces of the Orange Revolution," a collection of 36 photos documenting the 2004 demonstrations that are now known as the Orange Revolution. Sandra Semchuk and James Nicholas will present Castle Mountain Internment Camp, a photography show on display at the York Quay Gallery. Last but not least, artist Pavlo Lopata will paint icons, Hryhoryj Dyczok will make pysanky (Easter Eggs) and a group of enthusiasts will create contemporary beaded jewelry.

Chef Natalie Hladun of Natalie's Kitchen will hold demonstrations and interactive classes, preparing uniquely Ukrainian foods such as varenyky and holubtsi. Paska (traditional braided bread) making will be taught by Future Bakery, Toronto's oldest Ukrainian bakery. Ukrainian borsch will be demonstrated by Ukrainian cooking expert Hanya Cirka, while Chef Oryst Pidzamecky of Oryan Catering will teach audiences how to make Ukrainian crèpes stuffed with cheese and authentic Ukrainian chicken Kyiv. For those craving more contemporary dishes, world renowned chef Ken Kostick will also prepare a Ukrainian-Canadian fusion meal, while food stylist Olga Kaminski will hold classes with up-to-date food styling tips and demos. A $1 sampling fee applies to all demos.

A series of films will explore different facets of Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian culture and history. "Freedom Had a Price" (1994) tells the little-known story of those Ukrainian immigrants to Canada who were declared "enemy aliens" at the outbreak of World War I, and includes a Q & A session with Prof. Lubomyr Luciuk. "Teach Me To Dance" (1978) is a heartwarming tale about the friendship of an immigrant girl and a Canadian native, and the Ukrainian dancing that unites them. "Laughter In My Soul" (1983) is a profile of renowned Ukrainian Canadian cartoonist/satirist Jacob Maydanyk, set against the historical tapestry of the first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada. Used extensively in Ukrainian Canadian bilingual schools, this film also won the Yorkton Film Festival award in 1983. Also, legendary "strong man" and magician Mike Swistun will perform for the very last time at the age of 80 in "Strongest Man in the World" (1980).

More recent films include: Taras Tomenko's "Parched Land" (Peresokhla Zemlia, 2004), which is a parable without dialogue about a man who discovers an angel in the desert and uses it for his own financial gain. Also to be screened is one of the most highly acclaimed films from Ukraine - "Mamay" (2003), tells the love story between a Ukrainian Kozak and a Tatar woman who together defy ethnic and religious taboos. "Mamay" was an Academy Award Nominee for best foreign film. "Between Hitler and Stalin - Ukraine in World War II" (2003) is the story of the struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia that took place on the territory of Ukraine with the Ukrainians fighting against both sides for their freedom.

A collection of award-winning short feature and documentary films will be organized by the Ukrainian Film Club at Columbia University and the Ukrainian Culture Festival. Films will be introduced by Dr. Yuri Shevchuk (director of the Ukrainian Film Club of Columbia University). All films will be shown in their original Ukrainian versions with English subtitles.

Perhaps the most prominent film featured is "The Wayfarers" (Podorozhni), by director Ihor Strembitsky. This Ukrainian film is this year's winner of the coveted Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival, and is a 10-minute documentary which follows people in a psychiatric hospital.

"Tragic Love for Unfaithful Nuska" (Trahichna Liubov do Zradlyvoyi Nusky), directed by Taras Tkachenko, is a tongue-in-cheek melodrama that portrays two adolescents vying for the attention of the young woman next door who is unaware of the passion she provokes in her suitors. It is a lighthearted and moving comedy about a first love evolving against the background of a 1970s Ukrainian town, whose denizens try to escape from the absurdity and boredom of Soviet life.

For a little bit of humor there will be "Dora Was Dysfunctional" (1994) by director Andrea Odezynska. This comedic romance was short listed at the Academy Awards, the Hampton Film Festival and the Rotterdam Film Festival. The film has screened on HBO and Showtime.

Acclaimed Ukrainian-Canadian dancer and choreographer Sasha Ivanochko will perform the original solo work, "Is this love?" while dazzling Ukrainian dance numbers are intertwined with great Canadian songs. Suzie Vinnick and the Desna Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto will also share the stage.

Classic Canadian comedienne Luba Goy will host a variety show with music from The Scythians, comedy by Jo-Ann Waytowich and musical theatre from performer Lada Darewych. The show will include Ms. Waytowich's beloved character Ivanka, from "The Ivanka Chronicles."

Finally, kids will be able to learn to make real pysanky (Easter eggs), a fun Ukrainian tradition.

Ukrainian Zabava is a co-presentation of Harbourfront Center and the Ukrainian Culture Festival, presenters of the ninth annual Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival on Bloor Street West between Runnymede and Jane streets (August 26-28). Last year over 300,000 people experienced Ukrainian hospitality on Bloor Street West. Both sites will offer either the individual or families an opportunity to see, taste, hear and feel the traditional and current trends in Ukrainian music, food, song and dance.

Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival public information is available by calling (416) 410-9965 or logging on to www.ukrainianfestival.org.

Summer info and festival releases for Harbourfront Center may be found at http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summerfestivals/media.php.

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