UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS: Chervona Kalyna ball presents debutantes to the community (03/28/04)

UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS

Chervona Kalyna ball presents debutantes to the community

by Marta Kichorowska-Kebalo

WHIPPANY, N.J. - This year's Chervona Kalyna debutante ball was held on February 7 at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, N.J., Four debutante couples were introduced to the Ukrainian community that evening, in the presence of their parents and the many guests attending the Chervona Kalyna banquet. Among those enjoying the evening were Ukraine's Consul General Serhii Pohoreltsev with his wife, Svitlana, and Col. Anatolii Kononenko, counselor and military advisor for the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, with his wife, Iryna.

Ihor Sochan, the head of the Chervona Kalyna Organizing Committee, greeted the guests and expressed his appreciation to various members of the Chervona Kalyna Plast Fraternity and the many others who helped make the evening a success: Yaroslaw Stawnychy, assistant head of the Chervona Kalyna committee; Olya Stawnychy, who chose the beautiful flower arrangements and debutante bouquets; Marta and Orest Kebalo, the debutante presentation coordinators; and Ania Bohachevsky-Lonkevych, the debut choreographer. He also acknowledged the contributions of Marichka Sochan-Tymyc, press liaison (tableau) and designer of the Chervona Kalyna printed programs, and Bohdan Tytla, designer of the invitation. Several members of the younger chapter of the Chervona Kalyna fraternity also volunteered as controllers at the doors all evening.

The four debutante couples were: Larissa Andrejko of Ronkonkoma, N.Y. escorted by Vasil Kunitski of East Meadow, N.Y.; Natalia Bilchuk of Jersey City, N.J., escorted by Lesyk Myskiw of Union, N.J.; Ola Oliyarnik of Manhattan, escorted by Andrew Dziuk of Elmhurst, Ill.; and Larissa Pyszczymuka of Bellmore, N.Y., escorted by Petro Mycio of Old Bethpage, N.Y.

The couples made a captivating entrance to the traditional melody of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen. The Tempo orchestra, also a Chervona Kalyna tradition, provided the musical background to their elegant "debutante quadrille" and their first waltz to the soft romantic strains of "My Kyiv."

Then the four couples joined the rest of the Chervona Kalyna revelers, dancing the night away to the music of Tempo and Oles Kuzyszyn's Luna orchestra, right up to the traditional "Hopak" climax of the evening. They were a wonderful presence on the dance floor all evening; the escorts taking their roles seriously, charmingly exchanging partners for various dances, and reminding us all of the meaning of a "social."

Next year's Chervona Kalyna will be held on January 29, 2005, at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, N.J. Questions regarding debutante registration may be directed to Marta Kichorowska-Kebalo at (718) 291-4166 or mkebalo@aol.com.

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