So proud of my niece dancing in Ukraine!

[Natalka]

One of my nieces has been in western Ukraine for over a week, with her Ukrainian dancing troupe.
She left the day after her high school graduation.
So wonderful that she got to go visit my dad's (her Dido's) homeland!

This concert is in Ternopil, and they just show snippets in the newscast.
Any concerts they are doing raise money for orphans there.

Sarah can be seen in the first video at 0:13 in the front on the right in the orange outfit. (oh, on the still pic before you click on the vid to start, that's her back at the right side...)

It's better to see it bigger, so do so if you'd like!

[Natalka]

A longer video, which shows a bigger variety of the styles of dances they did, from different regions of Ukraine.

[Kitty77]

Thanks for posting Natalka, the dancing and costumes were beautiful.

[walkonby]

Oh that is very beautiful Natalka! The cultural dances near us are mostly Desi Dancing??( I think that is what it is called) , but I remember watching a few of the Ukrainian dance troupes growing up in my old neighbourhood. You must be very proud of your niece!

[Lynn49]

Oh, Natalka...that brought back so many lovely memories..ESP listening to the language I grew up with (and could speak many eons ago)....my maternal grandparents were from Lviv...I hope one day I could visit there..we have no more known relatives there, but there's still a tug in my heart to go there...

Congratulations to your niece on their performance...what an opportunity!

[Natalka]

My two nieces have been lucky to be here in the 'big' city, where there are Ukrainian dancing groups they can stay with through their teens, then if they can get in, they can move on to the more advanced young adult troupes. They have professional choreographers, etc. - my niece's is from Ukraine - and do dances and wear costumes from various regions.

My son danced only for a few years, and that was enough for him; he didn't want to continue, but liked it when he did it.

When I was Ukr. dancing, it was just taught by whoever had the most experience and things were pretty simple - and we did dances only from the Poltava region, where most of the families' ancestors were from. We only danced til we were 10 or 11.

I have only one pic - but our scanner doesn't work, so this is enlarged from a pic of an instamatic photo from over 40 years ago! - so it's bad quality.
I was 9 years old, and my partner is the younger brother of a man I ended up dating before I met my husband!

[lecale]

.

[hollyquaiscer]

The costumes are beautiful, as is the dancing. You are a proud auntie! I thinks its wonderful that children show an interest in their heritage, it's the only way we can keep it alive. I wish I had taught my children more about my polish heritage when my babcia was still alive. I love watching the young dance, it always amazes me how graceful they are. It makes me proud, and their not even my family

[Natalka]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

A lot of the time, the people in Ukraine are totally amazed that we Canadians have kept up a lot of the traditions from the old country - that we have concerts with dance and song, still recognize Ukraine's national heroes, still make ethnic foods, etc. It really tugs at their hearts!
And, of course, especially the older Ukrainian people here feel the same way - glad that the next generations are still interrested and involved in their heritage.

[marstec]

Congratulations to your niece, Natalka! Thanks for posting the links; you have every reason to be a proud auntie...that's a very exclusive group.

[ninna]

How lovely. I couldn't understand a word of the newscast but my goodness the dancing and costumes were gorgeous!

[gameprogirl]

awesome, I love it!

[Natalka]

She came home yesterday, I've seen some of the pics already, and can't wait to hear the stories.
The airline 'lost' 15 pieces of the group members' luggage; it's in Austria, lol! She has hers, though - they lost one of her pieces on the trip there!

[winston]

I am glad she made it home and I bet she has great stories to tell you. What a great experience and what beautiful dancing.

[Argo53]

Duzhe dobre