YONKERS, N.Y. – The Trembita Dance Ensemble, based in the heart of downtown Yonkers, N.Y., has been and will continue to be a prominent Ukrainian dance group for youths. Led by the talented Orlando Pagan, Trembita has progressed from a small group started in 2007 to a larger and more popular group today.
Mr. Pagan, known to everyone as Orlando, first gained his interest for dancing as a teen, not realizing that eventually he would become a major part of the Ukrainian dance culture in the United States. As a teenager, he was interested in not only dance, but also drama, he said, noting that he auditioned for Performing Arts High School (known today as LaGuardia High School of the Arts). He received his admission into the dance department and with that came the start of his career in dance.
An important fact is that Orlando is not Ukrainian himself; his parents are natives of Puerto Rico. While studying dance, 19-year-old Orlando informed his parents that he wanted to engage in professional Ukrainian folk dancing. He was captivated by the beauty, speed and complexity of the movements in Ukrainian folk dance. In 1987 Orlando began to dance in the Ukrainian dance group Syzokryli, where he remained for the next 13 years.
Orlando has been involved in many dance groups, and he eventually started the Trembita Dance Ensemble, which performs at many festivals and events. The first festival at which the troupe performed was the Yonkers Ukrainian Festival held at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church grounds. Recently, Trembita has performed at Citi Field before a Mets game and has participated in many local Ukrainian festivals. Performances such as the one at Citi Field have a number of pluses – most importantly, they allow the group to present Ukrainian dance and traditions to people outside of the Ukrainian community.
Although there is no true age cutoff, the dancers’ ages range from 6 to 18. The dancers are encouraged to pursue dance even after high school graduation. The dance ensemble is divided into two groups: a younger group for dancers between the ages of 6 and 12, and an older group for ages 13 and up. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings at the Ukrainian Youth Center in Yonkers. Those wishing to join the group can do so via the Trembita Facebook page.
The children who perform are always enthusiastic. With the range of dances from the Hutsul region to Poltava, the dancers are able to engage with their audience. They create a dialogue within the dance and create the drama that really excites them. The repertoire of the Zakarpattia region is vast and comprises “little pockets of different villages with different styles, therefore leading to endless possibilities,” Orlando noted.
Regarding the future, Orlando said he hopes to “perpetuate and expose Ukrainian dance to an even wider audience.” Trembita will continue to grow, and hopefully will be featured not only at highly visible festivals, theaters and more prestigious venues, but also on television or film where “exposure is greater,” he added.
Maya Lopatynsky, 17. lives in Darien, Conn., and attends King Low Heywood Thomas School in Stamford, Conn. She is an active member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization who is working towards the eagle scout rank. She was a member of the Trembita Ukrainian Dance Ensemble for many years.