RYE BROOK, N.Y. – The Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) hosted its 56th annual Debutante Ball at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, N.Y., on February 22. Over 800 guests gathered to celebrate as 15 young women made their formal debut into the Ukrainian American community.
The UAYA Debutante Ball, under the auspices of the National Executive Board, is a longstanding tradition among UAYA members of the Northeast. The event has its roots in European court custom and was adopted in the mid-20th century by Ukrainian American diaspora organizations. This year’s debutantes joined the ranks of nearly 900 young women who have taken part in this rite of passage over the past half century.
Following a bustling cocktail hour, guests were seated in the Grand Ballroom and officially welcomed by organizing committee member Valentyna Kapitula (UAYA Yonkers Branch). From there, the master and mistress of ceremonies, Peter Kolinsky (UAYA Hartford) and Adriana Krasniansky (UAYA Cleveland) began the formal presentation. Each debutante was introduced as she met her parents at the center of the ballroom, trading her single white rose for an elegant bouquet. She was then led by her escort around the perimeter of the dance floor as the emcees shared her academic accolades, hobbies, and involvement in the UAYA and the Ukrainian American community. Amid thunderous applause, each debutante concluded her presentation with the inaugural curtsy.
Debutante Yana Baltsevych is presented at the ball.
This year’s debutantes were: Yana Baltsevych (Shelton, Conn.), escorted by Daniel Mychjlyszyn; Martha Honcharyk (Cedar Knolls, N.J.; UAYA Whippany), escorted by James Cairns; Daria Kubska (Jersey City, N.J.; UAYA Jersey City), escorted by Max Gorin; Kalyna Kuzemczak (Yonkers, N.Y.; UAYA Yonkers), escorted by Roman Kuziw; Natalia Klapacz (Oak Ridge, N.J.; UAYA Whippany), escorted by John Soroka; Khrystyna Kovtun (Elmwood Park, N.J.; UAYA Passaic), escorted by Adrian Baran; Daniela Agne (Westfield, N.J.; UAYA Irvington), escorted by Mark Andrew Klemick; Valya Pogoda (Carteret, N.J.; UAYA Carteret), escorted by Lukian Wernyj; Alexa Benejam (Eastchester, N.Y.; UAYA Yonkers), escorted by Alexander Jaroszak; Aleksandra Shuter (Montebello, N.Y.), escorted by Pavlo Pencak; Patricia Wasiczko (Yonkers, NY; UAYA Yonkers), escorted by Ruslan Semenko; Yuliana Berdin (Redondo Beach, Calif.; UAYA Yonkers), escorted by Rostyk Fedorko; Kaitlyn Kotys (Cedar Grove, N.J.; UAYA Passaic), escorted by Alexander Zielonka; Stephania Korenovsky (East Haven, Conn.), escorted by Matthew Bzowyckyj; and Sophia Alexandra Priatka (Stamford, Conn.; UAYA Stamford), escorted by Roman Pychil.
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Debutante Aleksandra Shuter performs her bow.
After the presentation, National Executive Board President Adrian Dlaboha delivered his remarks, congratulating the debutantes and escorts on entering into this new phase in their young lives. He also encouraged their continued participation in UAYA activities and the Ukrainian American community. Following his speech, debutante Sophia Alexandra Priatka had the honor of delivering the annual dedication.
To conclude the formal portion of the program, the debutantes and their escorts performed an elegant and intricate group waltz, choreographed by Hryhoriy Momot with the assistance of his daughter Khrystyna Momot. Upon concluding the waltz, the debutantes’ fathers took their daughters to dance, marking the end of their formal presentation.
Dinner began with a blessing led by Father Rector Bohdan Tymchyshyn. Following dinner, two talented bands, New York’s Hrim and Toronto’s Zapovid, kicked off the zabava. Their spectacular performances kept guests dancing all through the night. The rousing “Kolomyika,” as in years past, was one of the highlights of the night.
The debutante ball was a joyous evening for the debutantes and a wonderful celebration for the UAYA community and guests in attendance. It continues to be one of the highlights of the youth association’s calendar and an event many Ukrainians in the Northeast look forward to annually as a time to celebrate the new generation of UAYA members and catch up with old friends.
This event would not be possible without the generous support of the sponsors and supporters, including SUMA Federal Credit Union in Yonkers, Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, Self Reliance Federal Credit Union of New Jersey and Yonkers Dim-SUMA. Also key were the numerous volunteers, as well as debutantes, escorts and parents whose efforts contributed to a wonderful evening.
The UAYA Debutante Ball Committee for 2020 was composed of Chairperson Tatiana Palylyk Andersen (UAYA Yonkers), Valentyna Kapitula (UAYA Yonkers), Solomia Pylypiw (UAYA Whippany), Stephanie DeBruin (UAYA Yonkers), Natalka Kudryk (UAYA Passaic), Alexandra Kushnir (UAYA Yonkers), Christine Porada Walsh (UAYA Passaic), Juliana Horbachevsky (UAYA Yonkers) and Jessica Demianicz (UAYA Jersey City).
The UAYA invites all to save the date for next year’s ball, which will take place January 30, 2021.