UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS
Plast's Newark branch hosts its traditional debutante ball
by Irene Turynsky
WHIPPANY, N.J. - On January 31, Plast-Pryiat and the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization branch of Newark, N.J., held their traditional debutante ball at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, N.J.
As the debutantes, resplendent in their long white gowns, entered the Grand Ballroom with a graceful promenade choreographed by Oksana Bauer, masters of ceremonies Lida Moczula and Lubodar Olesnycky presented the eight debutantes to the Ukrainian community.
On the occasion of this special event, Alexandra Lebed, vice-president of the Newark Plast branch, warmly greeted the debutantes. The program also included an invocation by two local pastors, the Rev. Roman Mirchuk of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, and the Rev. Bohdan Lukie of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark.
Andrea Lebed, hurtkova (leader) of the girls' hurtok (troop), whose members were making their debut that evening, recounted some of the memorable moments she and her friends had experienced during their scouting years.
The debutantes, accompanied by their escorts, were as follows: Olena Stefania Borkowsky with Markian Kuzmowycz, Lidia Maria Doll with Alexander Drabyk, Deanna Tamara Kochan with Jonathan Nahnybida, Natalia Olha Kuziw with Maksym Artymyshyn, Andrea Ivanna Lebed with Stephan Drabyk, Kristina Olga Melnyk with Alexander Myskiw, Amanda Rohowsky with Paul Mulyk, and Natalie Maria Temnycky with Alexander Skalchuk.
Over 375 guests enjoyed the dinner, and numerous additional guests arrived to dance to the music of two orchestras, Tempo of New Jersey and Zolota Bulava of Montreal. The evening was a magical event for the debutantes, families and guests alike.
The organizing committee for the 2004 debut comprised Irene Turynsky, Darka Semanyshyn, Laryssa Nahnybida, Zenia Olesnycky and Lida Moczula.
As the past years, the committee members thanked the Self Reliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union of Newark for its continued support, which included funding the printing of invitations, advertisements, tickets and the program book for the debutante ball.
Next year's Newark Plast debutante ball has been scheduled for February 5, 2005.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 28, 2004, No. 13, Vol. LXXII
| Home Page |