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Ukrainian pavilion at Globalfest in Calgary for the next 2 weeks

August 10, 2008 Andrew Leave a comment

Globafest 2008 starts tomorrow, running from August 11 – 23 in Calgary, AB:

“Vitiayemo!” Welcome! The Tradition of Tryzub is the tradition of Excellence. Let our music and dazzling entertainment keep your feet tapping and your heart racing. Returning from recent performances in Mexico, New York and Las Vegas, Calgary’s world famous Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble will again provide breath-taking, gravity defying acrobatic dance ntertainment. Take advantage of a rare opportunity! Tryzub’s performing Ensemble will be available in full costume for photo opportunities with visitors of the Tryzub Ukrainian Pavilion where you’ll find displays and information on Calgary’s Premier Ukrainian Dance Organization.

Here is the menu for the pavilion:

Perogies w/ butter onions
Sausage on a bun

Tickets are $15 per day and $50 for the entire festival.

news, usa

‘So you think you can dance’ labels the Hopak as Russian

August 8, 2008 Andrew 1 Comment

From UNIAN:

Last night, the very popular FOX TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” (watched by millions and millions of viewers) featured two of this year`s top male dancers wearing Ukrainian folk costumes and dancing a hopak while presenting it as a Russian dance “trepak.” The lame excuse that such a dance was used by Tchaikovsky in his ballet “The Nutcracker” does not justify such a glaring misinformation on the part of the producers and, in particular, a Russian choreographer who prepared this dance!

The League of Ukrainian Canadians have provided a petition to sign and are encouraging viewers to write to FOX tonight to have them acknowledge the error before tonight’s finale. Already available is a clip from last night’s dance.

Continue reading ‘So you think you can dance’ labels the Hopak as Russian →

canada, event

Ukrainian pavilion at Winnipeg’s Folklorama

August 7, 2008 Andrew Leave a comment

From the Winnipeg Sun:

Non-stop Ukrainian food and entertainment is available at the Ukraine-Kyiv pavilion at Maples Collegiate all week.

The pavilion has been around since the beginning of Folklorama but keeps every year fresh as the show features new dancers and live bands each night.

The entertainment from the show extends to a display room which features “a Ukrainian musical journey,” said Labay.

Popular Ukrainian instruments like the trembita are gathered in the room with volunteers who are keen on the music’s history.

On the main stage, performances led up to a finale from one of the many young and talented Ukrainian dance groups.

Folklorama goes from August 3 – 18. You can also watch video from the event. Click ‘continue reading’ for showtimes and directions.

Continue reading Ukrainian pavilion at Winnipeg’s Folklorama →

canada, news

Ukrainian Auschwitz survivor honoured

August 6, 2008 Andrew Leave a comment

From the Richmond Review:

Stefan Petelycky wears a symbol of his luck on his arm, a tattoo emblazoned with the numbers 154922. The number was branded on him when he was taken to Auschwitz when he was only 20 years old.

Since his harrowing days as a German prisoner, Petelycky has passed some of his luck onto other people through his humanitarian efforts. The former aircraft mechanic to the Canadian army retired 20 years ago and has spent much of his time since then sending medical supplies and childrenâ€™s clothing back to his home country, Ukraine.

From the The Province:

Between 1991 and 2003, Petelycky helped fill and ship 19 containers of goods, including used wheelchairs and hospital beds, from the B.C. chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Social Services charity to Ukraine.

During that time he travelled 47 times to Ukraine to help supervise their unloading and the distribution of goods to orphanages and hospitals.

Charity treasurer John Tymchuk said the amount of goods sent was valued at $1.5 million and shipping costs amounted to $200,000.

Petelycky was awarded a medal of honour for all his work by Ukrainian ambassador to Canada Ihor Ostash on July 30 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Richmond, BC.

Continue reading Ukrainian Auschwitz survivor honoured →

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news

Ukrainian news round-up for August 4th, 2008

August 5, 2008 Andrew Leave a comment

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn passed away on Sunday due to heart failure at the age of 89. The Guardian has an article noting his final years fantazing Putin as the new czar, denying genocide. President Yushchenko sent his condolences.
Students in Kyiv launched a blunt protest against Ukraine’s booming brothel business – by dressing as prostitutes and telling sex tourists to get lost. The demonstration is tied to fears held amongst many Ukrainians that the growing sex tourism industry is tarnishing their country.
The death toll for the flood in Western Ukraine has hit 38.
Four thousand people attended this year’s CNUF in Dauphin, Manitoba! Also that weekend was the Mill Race Festival in Cambridge, Ontario.
Alyona Bondarenko occupies the fourth place in the list of top 50 sexiest female athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics.
Ukraine and Poland are still hanging on to their chance to host the 2012 Eurocup.
Operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have been actively cooperating with the Israeli counterparts, protecting Jews and steadfastly watching students from the Muslim countries in the name of “terrorism”
Some great music from Ukrainian composers was featured in Ottawa on Saturday.
Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly in talks to play Vladimir Lenin in a new movie. The picture will be directed by Russian moviemaker Alexander Der Borodyansky, who insists the actor is perfect for the part because of his striking physical resemblance to the communist politician, who died in 1924.
Lastly, Canada has a new ambassador to Ukraine!

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