2019 BWV Toronto Ukrainian festival Youth Stage Performers
Alexandra Holyk - MASTER OF CEREMONIES
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Alexandra Holyk is an aspiring journalist, looking forward to starting her undergraduate degree in journalism at Ryerson University this September. She recently graduated with honours from Iona Catholic Secondary School, where she completed the Arts and Culture Special High Skills Major, specialized in Dance, and received the Bard English Award and the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Service Award. A former graduate of St. Sofia School, Alexandra is a proud member and assistant teacher at the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School, and a member and counsellor of the Ukrainian Youth Association - CYM Mississauga. As a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, she is a member of the church’s youth group, partaking in their various adventures as well as counselling at Break For Jesus camps. As the host and reporter of Kontakt Next Gen, Alexandra reports about talented Ukrainian Canadian youth that are making meaningful contributions to our community. Alexandra is also a columnist for the children’s magazine, “Розумники” - Smart Kids Magazine; writing about her experiences while also offering advice and inspiring youth in the Ukrainian community.
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ALEXANDER PIDZAMECKY - Master of Ceremonies
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Alexander (Oleksa) Pidzamecky is entering his first year in the Bachelor of Commerce program, DeGroote School of Business, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He previously attended St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto, where he was an active member of multiple clubs, programs and initiatives. Formerly a student of Josyf Cardinal Slipyj School, Oleksa is also a graduate of the UNF Toronto West Ridna Shkola, dances in the Voloshky ensemble of Barvinok Dance School, participated in PLAST scouts, is a member of the St. Joseph’s UCC youth group in Oakville, has served as a counselor at Break for Jesus Camp, emceed various community events, and plays several instruments. In addition, he has sung with the Dudaryk Boys Choir, participated in French-Ukrainian summer programs in the south of France, and in a semester student exchange in Cologne, Germany. Most recently, Alex has worked for the Sheptytsky Institute for two summers. He is also an avid photographer. Along with his partner, Alexandra Holyk, Alex interviews leading Ukrainian youth for Kontakt NEXT GEN Ukrainian Television.
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BARVINOK UKRAINIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE – Hamilton
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The Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Hamilton has been in existence for over 65 years. It is comprised of 35 students between the ages of 3 to 18. All dancers throughout the year, have the opportunity to promote our Ukrainian culture at local church celebrations, fairs, concerts and anniversary events. They have also appeared on television, at talent and variety shows, and at several area folk festivals. Under the direction and choreography of Michael Stechey and Nadine Usyk, the group has flourished with an expanding repertoire of dances, performances and student enrolment. In 2019, Barvinok Hamilton has soared to new heights with numerous performances in Ottawa, the Niagara Region and in Rochester, N.Y. The continued purpose of the group is to provide its dancers with an exciting educational experience while encouraging a greater interest in Ukrainian dance and culture. This year, Barvinok Hamilton's Junior & Senior groups are eager to share their dances with you at the Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival
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BARVINOK - Mississauga
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"Halychany" are a dance ensemble from the Barvinok Dance School based in Mississauga. These dancers are young children ranging in ages from 14-15. They have performed at various festivals in Mississauga, St. Catherine’s, in Vaughan at their Multicultural Musical Festival, in Toronto at Centennial Park for Independence Day, as well at Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festiva. They traveled to perform in Ottawa on Capital Hill and to Orlando, Florida representing Barvinok Dance School at Disney World. More importantly, Halychany played o significant role during the Barvinok’s 50th Anniversary Concert in May of this year and was one of the highlighted groups in the Jubilee program. Halychany dancers are a wonderful up and coming group to watch and we know you will enjoy seeing them dance at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival.
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Chaban I Vovk
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Michael Kulycky, Markel Reva Thomas Stecyk And Volodymyr Blyszczak, young musicians from Montréal, good friends and active community members are ready to get their audience dancing to a medley of upbeat Ukrainian instrumental dance numbers, performed on accordion, guitar, bass and drums. Their modern interpretation of traditional music as performed at various local stage shows is sure to please. Welcome these teen musicians, Sheptycky Ukrainian school graduates, members of Zustrich, CYM and the Troyanda Dance ensemble, to the stage.
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CHAIKA PERFORMING ENSEMBLE - Hamilton
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Chaika Performing Ensemble was created in 1957 under the auspices of the Hamilton Branch of the Ukrainian National Federation and has thrilled audience’s worldwide and won recognition and praise with their memorable performances throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. Chaika is dedicated to the development of Ukrainian folk song and dance. The school is comprised of 60 performers, ranging in age from 4 through adult. While helping to preserve Canada’s multicultural mosaic, the energy and spirit of Chaika is reflected in its choreography - integrating ballet with Ukrainian folk stage theatre. The school is committed to teaching traditional Ukrainian dances while giving students the rare opportunity to perform to live music, providing dancers and audiences an exhilarating experience. Follow Chaika on social media as they celebrate 63 years, you can find them on Facebook and through their website www.chaika.ca
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Daria Sulipka
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Daria Sulipka is a 10 year old talented musician who is very passionate about music! Her love for singing has resulted in taking vocal lessons with Oksana Zelinska at "Melodia" Vocal Youth Group for 3 years now. She also plays piano and is a valuable member of Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella "Zoloti Struny". As a solo bandura player, Daria has participated at annual Ukrainian Music Festival and Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto winning top prices and scholarships. She dances with "Ukraina" dance group too. When she grows up, Daria's dream is to become a professional musician and bring happiness to others through music and the artistry of performance!
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DESNA SCHOOL
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DESNA School is a Toronto-based Ukrainian dance school under the artistic direction of Virksy trained Luba & Yuri Grekov. This is a place where children not only experience Ukrainian culture and tradition, but also create lasting friendships and attain unforgettable memories! DESNA School consists of children aged 2 to 15, who practice once a week at the Plast Huculak Centre. Our dancers have performed on many stages including Nathan Phillips Square, The Toronto Ukrainian Festival, The Living Arts Centre, The Chicago Ukrainian Days, and Dauphin, MB, and different part in Ukraine. This summer they have travelled to the Ottawa Ukrainian Festival, and to Yonkers to perform at the Untermyer Garden World Fest Festival with the DESNA Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto.
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ECHO
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The ensemble ECHO was created a few years ago. Active members of this group include Sofia Lozenko, Diana Balitska, Yulia and Natalia Kaplun and Diana Yarema. The group has performed at many Ukrainian festivals, community and parish events. The girls have started singing together as an ensemble at a very young age and they have developed into strong singers. Not only do they spend time together at rehearsals but they are also the best of friends when practice is over.
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Katie Kubovich
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Katie Kubovych is talented and energetic 7 year old girl who dearly loves singing and dancing! Katie has been taking vocal lessons with Oksana Zelinska at "Melodia" Vocal Youth Group for one year now. She loves to perform! Katie has been playing piano for two years now as well. She always starts her day with positive attitude and a beautiful smile!
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Mieliek Anifieieva
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Mieliek Anifieieva is a Crimean Tartar girl, aged 6, born in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her father, Fevzi Anifieiev and her mother, Milia Anifieieva are Crimean Tartars, born in Middle Asia, (where their grandparents were deported in 1944) and raised in Crimea, Ukraine. At the age of 3 she started her first dancing classes, and afterwards continuously took part in Hi-Hop dance competitions, where she gained some rewards. While living in Kyiv, she attended Crimean national dancing, singing and language classes. At the age of 5, in 2017, Mieliek, along with her parents and her little sister moved to Canada and settled in Toronto. In September 2018, she started her first-grade school class at Avondale Public School in Toronto. Mieliek’s favorite activities are: dancing, drawing, doing physical activities like climbing monkey bars, riding a bicycle or a scooter. She can speak Ukrainian, English, Russian and Crimean Tartar.
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ODESSA LUBINSKi
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Nine years old, Odessa Lubinska lives in Toronto and attends Josyf Cardinal Slipyj School. At the age of four, she performed her first solo to Patriarch Sviatoslaw. Odessa was a finalist for Ukrainian Star during the Independence Day concert, at Centennial Park. She has performed various times at the Carassauaga Festival as well as the Annual Christmas Bazzar,Yarmarok. This young lady has also performed at the Ukrainian Bloor West Village Festival and at Camp Sokil for Ivana Kupala. She loves Ukrainian dancing and is an active member of Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School. Odessa enjoys performing for the community.
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UKRAINIAN ACADEMY OF DANCE
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The Ukrainian Academy of Dance was founded in 1987 in Toronto, Canada, as a Ukrainian folk-dance school for ages 3 to adult. They are celebrating their 33rd anniversary this year. Dancers in the Ensemble group have been chosen from The Ukrainian Academy of Dance and range in age from 10-14. The group has performed in Montréal at The Children’s Festival (La Fete des Enfants de Montreal), the CNE, the Toronto Christmas Market, Sherbrooke Quebec at Le Festival des traditions du monde, in Disney World as part of the Dance the World program, Boston and New York City where they performed at Quincy Market as well as on the Intrepid, a decommissioned WWII aircraft carrier. This summer Ensemble dancers were happy to join Arkan Dance Company in Ukraine where they performed in Lviv’s famed opera house, took part in workshops with renowned Ukraine dance companies and performed on Khreshchatyk in Kyiv during Independence Day festivities.
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ZHAYVIR
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The Zhayvir Children's Choir was established by the Ukrainian Youth Association -Toronto Branch in 2006 with initiative by Olesia Konyk. Musical Director, Olesia Konyk, teaches children not only to sing, but to sing with professionalism. Throughout this time Oksana Skira has remained as Zhayvir’s pianist. The choir is very active in the Ukrainian community with events such as the Shevchenko and Christmas Concerts, the Charity Concert "Children from Canada – for Children of Ukraine”, Easter Concert at the Ivan Franko Senior Residence, Vyshyvanka Day and the New Year’s Masquerade.
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