Joyous gathering for hope in Ukraine

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This article was published 04/04/2022 (1413 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Red boots stepped to the beat of the music; Ukrainian flags waved in the air.

Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble ended their performance with the roar of applause only a sold-out house can elicit.

The Stand With Ukraine benefit concert’s 526 seats were booked in two and a half days. Organizers then added a second show — also at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre — which filled up in 23 hours, according to Carina Romagnoli, one of the organizers of Sunday’s event.

“We’re completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the community,” Romagnoli said.

By Friday afternoon, the event had raised over $50,000 for charity. At least 300 people had bought tickets to watch via live-stream, with some tuning in from Ukraine and Poland.

Linda Hunter, a member of O. Koshetz Choir, prepared for a “more emotional” than normal performance Sunday before the 3 p.m. show.

“I think (this is) absolutely necessary,” Hunter said. “I think that Ukraine needs all the help that it can get, all the support.”

Hunter’s grandparents immigrated from Ukraine, and she’s been three times.

“To me, it’s home,” she said. “Even though I’ve never lived there, I feel that I have that connection.”

Ten Ukrainian choir and dance groups participated Sunday. Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble orchestrated the event: Romagnoli, Troyanda’s chairperson, and Jennifer Doroniuk, Troyanda’s creative director, had a text conversation about needing to do something for Ukraine when Russia invaded.

“We kind of had everything (for Stand With Ukraine) planned within a 48-hour time period,” Romagnoli said.

They asked nine Ukrainian parties to join, and the responses flowed in.

“In Manitoba, there’s such a strong and supportive Ukrainian community,” Romagnoli said. “We had every ounce of faith that everybody would be completely on board, and we were absolutely right.”

Word about the show spread via mouth and social media, leading to quick sales.

“I don’t even have words to describe how it feels,” Romagnoli said. “It makes me so proud to be a part of this community.”

An adult in-person ticket cost $43.45, and customers could add a donation. A live-stream ticket was $20.

The money is being funnelled to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, a program the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress launched. Cash is spent on food, meals and hygiene products, according to the fund’s website.

“In Manitoba, I know we feel very hopeless and very helpless in what we can do to help,” Romagnoli said. “By putting this show together, we feel this is kind of the one small action to help.”

Romagnoli visited Lviv, a western Ukrainian city, in 2017 with Troyanda. She’s been keeping up with the news.

“It hits home really hard, especially when you’re watching the devastation happen on TV or on social media and you think back to, ‘I stood right there a couple of years ago,’” Romagnoli said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”

Mayor Brian Bowman spoke at the 3 p.m. concert. He said he’d written to Lviv’s mayor when Russia invaded and called the Ukrainian city Winnipeg’s “sister city”.

“Winnipeg’s life and history is inextricably intertwined with the life and history of Ukraine,” Bowman said. “I told the mayor, ‘We would not be who we are if you were not who you are.’”

He called the local performances reminders of Ukraine’s courage and glory.

“I sat down and I read the program and was like, ‘Holy, it’s like every dance group possible is here,’ which is nice to see,” said Tifini Turner, who attended Sunday’s first concert.

Turner said she and her family had danced with Vitretz, one of the day’s performers, in the past. She had family and friends taking the stage.

It’s not often the Ukrainian groups unite like this, unless it’s Folklorama, Turner said.

Three choirs performed Sunday — Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus, Lyra and O. Koshetz Choir. Seven dance groups took the stage, including Troyanda, Selo Ukrainian Dancers, Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School, Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Rusalka, Vitretz and Zoloto Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com