Come on a historic journey
Dance school’s production to tell story of Ukrainian immigrants
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This article was published 17/04/2017 (3312 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Ukrainian-Canadian heritage and immigration is being celebrated with a special production by a Fort Rouge-based dance company.
Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School will present Domovyk and His Magical Ukrainian Journey on April 23 at St. Mary’s Academy in the Alumnae Hall.
Jennifer Chapman, chair of the Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School, said the production will recognize the anniversary of 125 years of Ukrainian immigration to Canada and illustrate the movement of families across the Atlantic Ocean through Ukrainian tales and traditions.
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The two-hour musical and dance production features a cast of over four dozen performers ranging in age from five to 30 years old as they tell the story of Domovyk, a mischievous paternal “house spirit,” Chapman explained.
“He’s sort of a mischievous character that might blame for losing your keys or leaving a light on. That’s the folklore behind it,” she said.
The spirit in the production helps his family as they prepare to immigrate to Canada, Chapman said.
“For the year prior to their departure from Ukraine, he travels around Ukraine for a full calendar year and takes in all the seasons and traditions, and he collects objects and heirlooms for the family to remember the traditions of Ukraine and to take back to Canada,” she said.
The production was created by Alberta-based choreographer Vincent Rees who held two workshops with Sopilka’s performers in the weeks leading up to the show. Sopilka will be the first to stage Domovyk and His Magical Ukrainian Journey in Manitoba, Chapman said.
The show puts a spotlight on Christmas traditions, the summer holiday of Kupalo, folklore and cultural dances. Throughout rehearsals Chapman said students at Sopilka gained new appreciation for the journey their ancestors took to arrive in Canada.
Performers were tasked to learn about their family’s immigration story and, at a fundraising social, shared their experiences with each other.
“We found out that a couple families were on the same boat coming to Canada,” Chapman said. “It’s just some interesting stories and things that we learned about each other.”
The full length production was a collaborative challenge for the performers as different age groups came together to work through scripts and choreography, Chapman added, but has been a meaningful experience for those involved.
“The different groups of kids and ages have worked together to put scenes together that blend, and that hasn’t really happened in the past,” she said.
“It was a challenge to do because the kids at the school have never done a full production with roles and characters and such.”
Sopilka’s production of Domovyk and His Magical Ukrainian Journey will be staged at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Academy. Tickets are between $10 and $20 and are available at www.sopilkadance.com