Interview with the Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble

Ukrainian dance is often described as energetic, fast-paced, entertaining and colorful.

In Western Canada, Ukrainian dancing is highly popular as the region is noted for its large Ukrainian community.

Here’s a featured interview with the Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble based in Winnipeg, Canada.

Tell us a bit about The Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble? How did it get started?

The Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble was formed in 1978, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the purpose of preserving and re-interpreting the traditional folk dances, culture and music of Ukraine. Romanetz performances are a high energy celebration of the strength, grace and precision of Ukrainian dance. Performing in the colourful regional costumes of Ukraine, Romanetz showcases a wide variety of dance styles. With a dynamic repertoire ranging from traditional classics to innovative new pieces, a Romanetz performance is a memorable experience. Romanetz is named after a flower that carpets the steppes (foothills) of Ukraine. This beautiful, yet hardy daisy is the perfect description for a dance group that calls the uncompromising Canadian prairie “Home”!

For those that are unfamiliar with traditional Ukrainian dance and music, can you describe a bit about your different styles and interpretations?

Traditional Ukrainian dance features a wide variety of styles, influenced by the many unique regions in Ukraine. Most people are familiar with the central Ukrainian dance “Hopak,” with its energetic rhythm and feats of athleticism, and the welcome dance “Pryvit,” which includes the presentation of bread and salt to the audience.

This central Ukrainian style of dance features graceful, sweeping movements from the women, and acrobatic leaps and kicks from the men.

The different styles of Ukrainian dance are influenced by the environment in which the traditions developed. Romanetz performs dances from the Hutsul region, in the Carpathian mountains, where rocky terrain and limited space resulted in the development of quick, high-stepping dances, with lines and closed formations being typical. Romanetz also performs dances from regions like Bukovyna, Zakarpattia, and Volyn, which feature steps and movements similar to those found in neighbouring countries like Moldova, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. This may come as no surprise, since these regions were often occupied by foreign nations as borders changed hands over the years. These regional dances are full of quick footwork and are often couple-oriented. Romanetz also performs a uniquely subtle Gypsy dance, based on a style of dance that originated among the Roma people of Ukraine.

Romanetz interprets these traditional dances in a variety of ways, all while preserving the original spirit of the region. Some of our dances maintain their traditional roots, while others incorporate modern versions of costuming, martial arts influences, and comedy. In one of our most spectacular modern interpretations of Ukrainian dance, Romanetz’s 30th anniversary celebration was presented as a dinner theatre to a sold-out crowd, complete with the performance of dances from many regions of Ukraine, an excellent meal, and more than a little audience participation.

What type of costumes or traditional outfits do your dancers wear?

Romanetz has a large collection of both traditional and more modern costumes.

Dancers wear a variety of outfits, which change from region to region. The most well-known costumes are from the central region of Ukraine, which include a velvet vest and apron, skirt, embroidered blouse and slip, and flowered headpiece with ribbons for the women, and baggy pants, embroidered shirt, and sash for the men. The most famous part of this region’s costuming however are the red dancing boots!

Costumes from other regions are again influenced by the environment. The Hutsul and Bukovinian costumes are sleek and close fitting, due to the mountainous, closed-in nature of these regions, while regions that have a little more room to move, like Zakarpattia and Volyn, usually have more sweeping, flowing costumes. Footwear will also vary from region to region, with black dance boots in western Ukrainian dances, red and black character shoes across many regions, and even leather shoes called “postoly” in Hutsul dances.

How often do your dancers rehearse?

We hold a 3 hour practice once per week, year round. These rehearsals usually include a ballet barre warm-up, strength and cardio conditioning, centre work, and the running of our repertoire of dances, as well as the instruction of new dances. For upcoming tours and large performances, extra rehearsals are usually held to make sure that everyone is in top-notch form for the show.

The Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble has toured both in Canada and internationally, can you tell us a bit about your performances?

Romanetz has been very fortunate to have had many opportunities to tour both nationally and internationally.

Most recently, the group performed at the 12th International Folklore Festival in Winningen, Germany, in June 2009. The festival was a four day, outdoor event featuring performers from Europe, Africa, and North and South America, and was a huge success. Romanetz has performed at a variety of other events including the Opening Ceremonies of the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Canada Day celebrations in South Dakota, and the IX International Folklore Festival in Zacatecas, Mexico in 2004. Romanetz also performs annually at Winnipeg’s largest cultural festival, Folklorama.

Any additional comments you would like to share with us?

The Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble has a unique “open door” policy in that we happily accept adult dancers of all skill levels and backgrounds, regardless of their level of dance experience. We are always looking for new members, so if you love Ukrainian dance and have always been meaning to give it a try, or have been dancing for years and are looking for a fun group to join, we’d love to hear from you. As well, we are always available for performances, from the smallest birthday or wedding celebration to the largest festival. If you’d like to learn more about the group or enquire about a performance, please get in touch. Our contact details can be found at our website, http://www.romanetz.org.

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Tags: Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Ukrainian dance

Category: Customs & Traditions