Yonkers festival highlighted by performances of area dance ensembles

by Karen Chelak

YONKERS, N.Y. - There could not have been a more beautiful day for the 21st annual Ukrainian Heritage Festival in Yonkers, N.Y., sponsored by St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The smell of cotton candy and popcorn, as well as that of varenyky and kovbasa, wafted through the warm summer air as crowds gathered to watch the exceptional performances by the featured singers and dancers.

The festival ran from Friday, June 16, through Sunday, June 18. Each day was as fun-filled as the one before with non-stop food and drink, as well as rides, games and vendors. There was not a single face without a smile.

Yet, the most exciting aspect of the festival had to have been the wonderful dancers who put on a spectacular show, proud to display their talent, as well as their pride for their Ukrainian heritage.

The schools that performed throughout the weekend included the Iskra Dance Ensemble from Whippany, N.J., under the artistic direction of Andrij Cybyk; the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky School from Manhattan and the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Astoria, N.Y., both directed by Orlando and Larisa Pagan; the Ukrainian American Youth Association Dancers of Yonkers and the Barvinok Folk Dance Ensemble of Bound Brook, N.J., both directed by Hryhoriy Momot; the Obrij Folk Dance Ensemble, created and directed by Roman Lewkowicz; and finally the School of Ballroom Dance of New York City.

The beautiful costumes complimented the superb dancing of each and every one of the talented performers. The exhilarating Hopaks and the exotic regional dances all added to a truly unforgettable weekend.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 16, 2006, No. 29, Vol. LXXIV

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