Ukrainian, Polish Heritage Shine At Rutgers Festival (12/26/76)

Ukrainian, Polish Heritage Shine At Rutgers Festival

NEWARK, N.J. - Ukrainians and Poles, two bordering nations in Eastern Europe, whose past history is replete with many a bellicose phase, joined hands in this, America's Bicentennial year, in an inspiring, buoying display of their respective cultures in what was the first Slavic Festival staged by Rutgers University Saturday, December 18, at its Newark, N.J. campus.

Sponsored by Provost James E. Young in cooperation with the Soviet and East European Studies Program, headed by Prof. Taras Hunczak, a Ukrainian historian of the younger generation, the Festival attracted an SRO crowd of some 600 persons to the Paul Robeson Center auditorium, among them academes, students and members of the Ukrainian and Polish communities which constitute two largest Slavic groups in the state.

The Festival, held from 12:00 noon through 6:00 p.m., featured intricately and tastefully arranged exhibits and a three-hour program of songs and dances by outstanding Ukrainian and Polish performing ensembles.

A steady flow of people wove their way throughout the early part of the afternoon to the spacious foye of the Robeson Center, stopping to view with admiration some two dozen tables laden with artifacts ranging from Ukrainian ceramics and embroidery to Polish carvings and tapestry. Adorning the Ukrainian corner was an intricately embroidered map of Ukraine, with relevant designs denoting particular regions of that country. It was the work of Mrs. Myroslava Stakhiv.

The Ukrainian exhibit was prepared by Mrs. Oksana Kuzmak in cooperation with the New Jersey Regional Council of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, headed by Mrs. Olha Hnateyko.

The Polish exhibit was arranged by the Polish Cultural Foundation of Irvington, N.J., notably its members, Mrs. Henrietta Rose and Mrs. Cecilia Cieckiewicz.

The guests were treated to delicious samples of Ukrainian traditional foods, ranging from hot "borshch" to "khrusty", courtesy of members of the Ukrainian Student Organization at Rutgers, headed by Nadia Polehenky.

There was plenty of Polish pastry to go with coffee and tea.

The 60-voice male "Prometheus" choir from Philadelphia, Pa., under the direction of Michael Dlaboha, and the New York SUMA "Verkhovyntsi" dancers, under the direction of Oleh Genza, were the Ukrainian group's contribution to the Festival, both performing with style and elan for the overflowing crowd.

The "Aria" Z.M.P. Polish choir of Passaic-Wallington, N.J., under the direction of Prof. Jerzy Garbien, and the Polish American Folk Dance Group from New York, under the direction of Stanley Pelc, presented an equally colorful show of Polish songs and dances, concluding the program with a neatly choreographed salute to America's Bicentennial through dance and song.

Moving the program with dexterity was another Ukrainian, Mrs. Oksana Sobolta.

Provost Young, in opening the program, welcomed both groups, acknowledged the hard work of all those responsible for this event, and expressed hope the Festival will become an annual affair at this university.

Friday afternoon, Provost Young hosted some 30 representatives and journalists of both groups at a reception in his offices. Leading the Ukrainian contingent was Joseph Lesawyer, UNA President and Executive Vice-President of the UCCA.

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