The 25th Annual Svoboda Dance Festival in North Battleford was held at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts April 17-19.
To mark this special anniversary, there was a gala concert Saturday evening featuring performances by Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble, Lastiwka Ukrainian Orthodox Choir and Orchestra and Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble, all from Saskatoon.
Halfway through the program, there was a tribute to the originators of the festival and to all festival executives over the past quarter century as well as a large-screen photo presentation spanning the last 25 years of Ukrainian dancing in North Battleford. Many dance parents in the audience were delighted to see themselves up on the screen as they appeared in their own former dancing days.
This year鈥檚 adjudicator was Shane Gibson from Edmonton, Alta., a former member of the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. He has received training in Ukrainian dance, character ballet, jazz, modern dance and musical theatre and has worked and trained with several celebrated artists in North America and Ukraine. He has complemented his dance training with studies in gross anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and visual and performing arts. He shares his love of dance with students across western Canada as an artistic director, instructor and adjudicator and is currently working on developing and delivering quality professional development and resources for Ukrainian dance instructors.
During the weekend, the adjudicator was treated to a kaleidoscope of dances from a variety of regions throughout Ukraine. There were over 300 dance performances from 20 different dance groups who came from all over Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Local award winners were:
Outstanding Choreographer 鈥� Choreography Classes - Natalya Shevchuk
Outstanding Male National Solo 鈥� 17 to 18 years - Brandon Klima
Outstanding 鈥� Female National Duet 鈥� 6 and under - Ella Campbell and Elise Fransoo
Outstanding 鈥� Female National Duet 鈥� 13 to 14 years - Marusia and Natalya Shevchuk
Outstanding 鈥� Female National Duet 鈥� 17 to 18 years - Taylor Cave聽 and Payton Dubrule
Outstanding 鈥� Male National Duet 鈥� 9 to 10 years - Teagan Pritchett聽 and Ivan Shevchuk
Outstanding 鈥� Mixed National Duet 鈥� 9 to 10 years - Willow Rogers聽 and Ivan Shevchuk
This year, the recipients of awards that were designated specifically for Svoboda Dancers were chosen by the adjudicator based upon festival performances and were awarded at the final recital May 5. The winners of these awards were as follows:
Solo Awards
Outstanding Female Svoboda Dancer (12 and under) - Anna Klymenko
Promising Female Svoboda Dancer (12 and under) - Rory Combres
Outstanding Female Svoboda Dancer (13 and over) - Natalya Shevchuk
Promising Female Svoboda Dancer (13 and over) - Kaitlyn Friesen
Outstanding Male Svoboda Dancer (12 and under) - Pavlo Klymenko
Outstanding Male Svoboda Dancer (13 and over) - Corey Koliniak
聽Promising Male Svoboda Dancer (13 and over) - Brandon Klima
Duet Awards
Most Promising Female Duet 鈥� Svoboda Dancers - Taylor Cave and Payton Dubrule
Most Promising Male Duet 鈥� Svoboda Dancers - Teagan Pritchett聽 and Ivan Shevchuk
Most Promising Mixed Duet 鈥� Svoboda Dancers - Rhett Combres聽 and Rory Combres
Small Group Awards
Outstanding Svoboda Small Group - Ivan, Marusia and Natalya Shevchuk (Character Dance)
Promising Svoboda Small Group - Taylor Cave, Payton Dubrule and Kaitlin Friesen (Volyn)
Large Group Awards
Outstanding Svoboda Large Group 鈥� Svoboda Seniors (Transcarpathian)
Promising Svoboda Large Group 鈥� Svoboda Intermediates (Central)
Each year, Dance Saskatchewan sponsors an ambassador鈥檚 award for a soloist from Saskatchewan, 12 years or older, who has not previously received the award. This award includes complimentary membership to Dance Saskatchewan, free tuition to applicable workshops, and exposure in the Dance Saskatchewan brochure and on its website. This year鈥檚 recipient was Alexa Kliewer from the Rushnychok Ukrainian Folk Dance Association Inc. of Saskatoon.
The award for the highest mark in the festival, a mark of 98, went to MY Ukrainian Dance Academy from St. Albert, Alta., Character Mixed Large Group, 13-14 years, for an extremely moving interpretive dance depicting the demonstrations in the streets of Kiev and the current conflict in Eastern Ukraine. For the first time in the history of the Svoboda Dance Festival, a dance received a standing ovation during the competition portion of the program.
For the second consecutive year, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Saskatchewan Provincial Council, sponsored a scholarship to be awarded to a choreographer for excellence in dance design and/or most creative and innovative choreography. This year, the winning dance was the collaborative effort of Sonya Horner, Shannon White Gabrush and Jason White for a pre-Christian era representation of mythical forest spirits who lure a young man to his death. The dance was performed by the 15- and 16-year-old mixed large group from Rushnychok Ukrainian Folk Dance Association Inc. of Saskatoon. Sonya Horner, one of the winning choreographers, has been an instructor with the intermediate and senior Svoboda Dancers for the past 11 years. Shannon White had previously instructed the beginner and junior levels in North Battleford .
鈥淚n the spectrum of human expression, when speaking is not enough, we sing. And when singing is not enough, we dance!鈥� 鈥� Author unknown
