The Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club are excited about celebrating Malanka, the Ukrainian New Year, Jan. 19 at the Lethbridge Seniors Centre.
“ We’ll be performing dances from a variety of regions and there will be lots of colourful costumes,” enthused instructor Anastasia Sereda, who is one of the original members of the club. She joined as a dancer at age five back in 1994. She has been one of the club’s dance instructors for the past four years.
Dean Mackedenski, who has been teaching the group for the past three years, comes down from Calgary every Sunday to teach. Assistant instructor Ashley Hogue also teaches. Approximately 40 dancers from “age 3 to timeless” are part of the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club.
“But it usually increases after Malanka,” Sereda said.
This year’s Malanka celebrations will begin with a dance demonstration from the Volyn, Poltava and Transcarpathian regions of the Ukraine, which will be followed by a traditional Ukrainian dinner including pirogues, followed by more dancing and live music from Calgary Ukrainian band Absolute who will help ring in the New Year.
“Absolute are a Calgary based band. They take song requests and play a little bit of everything. They play polkas and new music and a lot of traditional music. Just a lot of fun stuff,” Sereda said adding they usually are the band of choice for Malanka celebrations.
Malanka is the biggest event of the year for the club.
“It’s a big fundraiser for our group because we’re all volunteer based. There will also be a silent auction and it is also a way for us to share Ukrainian culture and traditions with the community,” she described.
She noted the group keeps things fresh by adding new dances each year for the Malanka celebrations.
“It is a bit of a challenge, but if it wasn’t a challenge, I’d get bored with it,” she said.
She is excited about this year’s dances. The members have been working on the dances since September.
“Volyn is more polka based, so it is very bouncy and lively. Poltava is a central region and there are lots of steps. The Transcarpathian Region is a mountainous region so the steps are more staccato and light,” she described adding she enjoys the energy of the Bolyn dances the most.
The social dancing after dinner will also be a lot of fun.
“ It’s Kolomiyka, so everybody is in a circle and each person can go to the centre of it and show their moves,” she enthused.
They also have a couple other big shows this year including a performance with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, May 12 and 13.
“We’ve never done anything like that before,” she enthused.
“ So we’re very excited about collaborating with them,” she continued.
Malanka begins with cocktails at 4:30 p.m. at the LSCO (Lethbridge Senior’s Centre Organization) with the performances beginning approximately an hour later.
Tickets are available at the Allied Arts Council for $45 for adults, $35 for students and seniors (65 and up) and $20 for children (12 and under)
The group meets Sundays at the Van Dance Centre from noon to 6:30 p.m.
They will be taking new dancers after Malanka. They also offer free workshops on occasion.
All fees are charged per month plus there is a nominal costume fee as well.
Final dancer placement is determined by the Instructors.
Membership for the month ranges from $30 for beginners to $50 for ensemble.
