Come join and celebrate the culture of Ukraine

The Lethbridge Troyanda Ukrainian Dance group along with the UNITAS Inclusion Series aims to expose, entertain, and educate the local public on the Ukrainian Culture Come to the Bill Kergan Centre on 13th Street and 2nd Avenue North on Saturday, November 29th from 2 pm-5 pm.

There will be displays and workshops as well as refreshments and of course....perogies!!

Troyanda will conduct a regional dance workshop, perogy making workshop and a pysanky egg writing class.  You can see Troyanda's amazing collection of historical and new costumes as well!  There will also be Ukrainian music and live entertainment.

Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary this year and as part of the Inclusion Series will be showing a special anniversary slide presentation.

We will also be supporting Red Cross Relief Efforts in Ukraine.

For more information on Troyanda’s 20^th Anniversary and our role in the UNITAS inclusion series:  Contact Patt Williams at 403-320-8931.

This event is free of charge and is sponsored by the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism & Discrimination (CMARD) through the City of Lethbridge.

Join Troyanda at CASA

Learning through dance-Grade 3 Curriculum show

Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club of Lethbridge plays host to over 900 Grade 3 Students every spring with  their annual      Grade Three Curriculum Show.  

The show includes descriptions of geography, culture, music, food and of course, dance.  The program serves to round out the Grade 3 Curriculum on Ukraine and helps it come alive for students.

There are two shows.  One held in the morning from 9:30-11:15 am and another in the afternoon 12:30-2:15 pm.  The shows are very popular and tend to sell out quickly and have considerable wait lists.

Grade 3 students are treated to an informative slideshow about Ukraine.

Dean and Ana teach students some steps
specific to a specific regional dance.

Everybody dance!!

Grade 3 Troyanda dancers performing for their peers

Dancers are also eager to learn more about Ukraine.

You don't see these moves at the
school dances!!

A Hutzul shepher with his flock of sheep.
Can you say EWE?

Ukraine's National Dance, The Hopak.  The Grande Finale to any dance performance.

Thanks to the dancers and parents who volunteered their time to make these shows possible. 

Nicole and Nathan Hall win 12 Gold and 1 Silver in one weekend

Brother and sister duo, Nathan and Nicole Hall, recently competed in three different dance festivals. It was a whirlwind of a weekend as they traveled to Lloydminster, Brandon and Saskatoon to perform and compete in three Ukrainian Dance Festivals. They brought home an astonishing 12 Gold and 1 Silver for their efforts. Perhaps even more amazingly, Nathan was only 15 minutes late for his regular studio rehearsal with Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club of Lethbridge on Sunday afternoon.

Nicole and Nathan performed in four regional categories as well as the “open” category. Unbeknownst to many, there are very different styles of Ukrainian Folk dance. The young duet performed in Hutzul, Poltava, Volyn and Transcarpathian categories, each region with different signature moves, rhythms and costumes. For the open category they performed a lively and energetic sailor dance.

Their father Paul and mother Pauline are proud to announce that Nicole and Nathan were just awarded the “highest score mixed duet” at the Vermillion Ukrainian Dance Festival held in March.

Nicole and Nathan are looking forward to performing with their home dance club, Troyanda, in the upcoming performance Vesna to be held on May 3 at the University of Lethbridge Theatre. Nathan (age 12) performs with the Junior group while Nicole (age 14) dances with Troyanda’s Ensemble.

Troyanda congratulates Nicole, Nathan and their instructor/choreographer Dean Mackedenski on their recent successes. Nicole and Nathan have been dancing with Troyanda for 10 and 8 years respectively.


Should you wish to know more about Ukrainian Folk Dance, Vesna, or how register for classes, please contact Troyanda by e-mailing Troyanda@hotmail.ca.

Annual Vesna Performance May 3 at the U of L Theatre

 

Vesna is Troyanda's celebration of spring featuring the brightly coloured costumes and dances from various regions of  Ukraine. 

Don't miss this special performance to be held at the University of Lethbridge Theatre at 7pm on May 3. 

Prices for tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors (65 & up) and $10 for children 10 and under.

Tickets are available through the University Box Office (W510) in the U of L Centre for the Arts.  You may also order tickets by phoning (403) 329-2616.

The box office is open weekdays from 12:30-3:30 pm.  

Tickets will also be available at the U of L box office one hour prior to show time.

 

Peace for Ukraine- Candlelight vigil March 9, 7-7:30 pm

The Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club will be organizing a Vigil for Peace to bring awareness to the current events in Ukraine. The event will take place at the main entrance of the Lethbridge City Hall from 7:00 to 7:30 pm on Sunday, March 9.  Please join us to show our concern and support for the peoples of Ukraine.

The Vigil for Peace is a result of the current events in Ukraine. Many members of Troyanda have close ties with Ukraine.  Some dancers have travelled to Ukraine for training in folk dance, bringing their skills and love of the Ukrainian culture back home with them to Canada, while others have recently emigrated and/or still have family members living in “the old country”. 

Please join us to send hope and light to those affected in these times of uncertainty in Ukraine.



Dean Mackedenski, Artistic Director

Biography-Club Instructor Anastasia Sereda

Anastasia Sereda-Club Instructor
Photo by Mark Orenstein
Courtesy of DeJourdan's Photographics

Anastasia began dancing with Mary Falconer’s Ballet program in 1992.  Anastasia’s love of music and dance have continued throughout the many ballet performances presented by the University of Lethbridge Dance Program, culminating in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Tchaikowsky’s Nutcracker in 2008.

In 2005 & 2008 Anastasia attended the International Summer School of Ukrainian Dance at Kyiv’s National Institute of Culture & Fine Arts to train and study alongside the Virsky National Folk Dance Company of Ukraine. 

Also in 2008, Anastasia attended the summer dance program offered by Alberta Ballet in Calgary.

Being one of the founding members of the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club of Lethbridge in 1994, Anastasia began instructing in Troyanda in 2002.  Since this time, she has served initially as an assistant instructor before becoming Troyanda’s lead instructor in 2009.  Anastasia continues to pass on her love and knowledge of Ukrainian dance to her students, in addition to performing as a member of the Troyanda Ensemble with highlights including Globalfest, the Calgary Ukrainian Festival, and Troyanda’s collaboration with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra in May 2013.

Dance is a passion for Anastasia and she fills her leisure time with ballet, jazz, and Ukrainian dance.  In addition to having completed a degree in Political Sciences, Anastasia is currently continuing her education with a degree in Women & Gender Studies at the University of Lethbridge.  She continues to take ballet classes and is a member of the University of Lethbridge Dance Team, attending competitions in Calgary and Edmonton this past year.

Anastasia enjoys each group of dancers she is able to teach and train.  She is grateful to the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club for giving her the opportunity to instruct and thanks the dancers and parents for their continued commitment and support

2014 Parent Viewing a huge success!!

Parent viewing, no doubt about it, is the dress rehearsal for Malanka.  Dancers receive their costumes, get their hair braided, make up done,  pictures taken and then get to perform for family.  It's a great time to work out the bugs before the much bigger, more intimidating performance for Malanka when the gym is full and the spotlight is focussed squarely on the dancers.  But perhaps more importantly, Parent Viewing allows Troyanda Club members a chance to get to know one another better and break bread (ok pizza) together.  Here is the day in review in pictures.

Generous Sponsors

Malanka 2014 Photo Gallery

All photos are by Mark Orenstein courtesy of deJourdan's Photographics.
Copyright Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club Lethbridge