Cheremosh Society Cher-it News

The most important thing you will accomplish while traveling is making connections. In my travels to Europe this summer, I built upon long-time friendships. I connected with people that I never thought I would. I also made new friends from across the world.

I got to travel with my best friend to Europe, which is a whole other story in it’s own. We were the perfect team: she hates olives and I love them. We maneuvered through Greece during a taxi strike with an ease that wouldn’t have been if it were with someone else. I am endlessly thankful for her patience and helpful hand after I broke my wrist in the middle of our trip.

I became closer to people I knew, people I danced with but maybe never opened up to. Prejudices were erased and new friendships had begun. Cheremosh is my second family. It is a place where friendships are built for life and an opportunity for dancers, like me, to pass the passion on from generation to generation. It is because of tours like our trip to Bulgaria that these connections become stronger. We are forced to problem solve, overcome challenges and build tolerance.

The people you meet when you travel can be some of the most influential people of your life, when it comes to opening your mind to the rest of the world. In Cheremosh’s travels, we have met plenty of interesting characters that offer a new perspective. At Eurofolk, we had the opportunity to spend time with a folk group from Eastern Russia. We could hardly ask for each others names. Despite the language barrier, these young folk dancers came up with a “surprise photo” game that kept us all laughing and giggling on the bus ride from Bourgas back to Nessebar.

At one performance, I noticed a man with a very professional looking camera. That doesn’t always mean that a person is capable of good photography, but he seemed to know his gear well. I wasn’t sure if he worked for the festival, or maybe just a tourist that stumbled upon Eurofolk. Either way, I wanted those photos, so I gave him my email. He sent me a link to his blog where I could find photos of the Eurofolk festival as well as all of his travels across the world – and I thought I had a travel bug.

http://www.passengerdiaries.com/2011/07/eurofolk-fest-nesebar-bulgaria/

I think back to that day, when I almost gave up my search for a paper and pen to write down my email. I am so glad I didn’t.

As I am writing this, I am in a seat thousands of feet in the air somewhere over Greenland, traveling home from another successful Cheremosh endeavor. Our 33-hour day is the last leg of the journey for most of us. However, we did say goodbye to a few dancers in Sofia, who will be making their own way home via a couple more countries.

I believe we have all learned a lot from each other and from the experiences on this tour. One thing in particular is that no matter the circumstances, Cheremosh always strives to perform at the highest level possible. We dance for the audience as well as for ourselves. The greatest moment for me was standing on stage after our closing ceremony performance and receiving the highest honor of the competition. Although we were not from Europe, we were able to show how well we have been able preserve the Ukrainian dance culture in Canada, and the appreciation we received in Bulgaria and back home was wonderful.

Meeting new contacts, such as the organizer of a world folk competition, was wonderful as they gave us their congratulations on our caliber of dance. We also received an invitation to another competition being held next month but unfortunately we had to decline. Although it is hard for some to believe, we are not professional dancers and need to get back to our lives in Edmonton…. as much as everyone would much rather stay in Europe to travel and dance!

As we, the dancers, are heading home, our artistic director continues to think big and is already visualizing Cheremosh’s next international event.  In the meantime, the dancing never stops.  The travellers will be meeting up again next week in the studio, along with fellow company members who were not able to make the trip, to continue preparing for our next performance on Sunday, August 7 at the Ukrainian Village as part of the 120th Anniversay of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada.

Thank you to everyone involved (from Brooke and Erin for sharing their laptops and cameras for blog usage, to Mykola, Debbie, and Andrea for their leadership, to the behind the scenes work by Stephan, Jason G., and Nina, to all the dancers and blog contributors).  It is what has made this trip and this blog so successful!

European Folklore Festival Rocks Bulgaria Out Of Summer Doldrums

HUMNews – These Ukrainian folk dancers from Edmonton, Canada are twirling so quickly they almost blend into the set for the European Championship of Folklore in Nessebar, Bulgaria, which ends Monday after 10 days. Many performances are being livestreamed. As part of the festival, dancers have been able to meet folk groups from other parts of the world, including a children’s dance group from Mongolian-influenced eastern Russia.  One dancer wrote: “I have to admit – dancing in 30+ Celsius weather is taxing, no doubt, but the audience has made it an absolute pleasure. We are not only dancing for the locals, but forpeople who have come here from all different countries for vacation and to take in the folk festival.” When not performing or warming up, the dancers on the tour have found ample ways to enjoy the sun and Bulgarian culture, from shopping trips to Old Town Nessebar – to even banana boating on the Black Sea. As the only representative from North America, dancers from the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company (pictured below) say they are honoured and proud to represent Canada,  Alberta and Edmonton at this international event.

For me, Cheremosh has always been about the dancing … the feeling of looking out at the audience at the end of hopak after an exhausting and invigorating show. I feel so privileged to be able to perform on stage and carry on the legacy of the past forty years of Cheremosh dancers. Traveling overseas to dance is something that I know all of us have thought of and it has been truly amazing to experience Europe as a performer instead of as a tourist.

The first thing I remember about dancing as a child is drawing pictures of my mom in her Cheremosh costume and just hoping someday that could be me. Since then, I have always taken pleasure in watching the generation of dancers that came before me and building on my dance ability based on the example of the most senior dancers in the studio. I take pride in knowing that in traveling to Bulgaria we have added another stamp to Cheremosh’s world passport … making new memories and reminding current dancers and alumni of memories from previous endeavors: China, Scotland, Ukraine, England, etc.

Performing six times in eight days was such a treat and feeling the appreciation and joy from the audience here and online viewers at home has added even more to the excitement and meaning of each performance. It’s going to be difficult to go home and realize that we won’t get to perform almost every day!!

Yesterday we did our last show and I now have a chance to look back on the tour as a whole. This tour has been an experience that I would never trade for anything. To be able to arrive in a country and be able to put smiles on the audience’s faces has made the work leading to this tour worth it. To share the passion for dance that we all have with each other and with the audience has been a gift. Dancing in Bulgaria has helped me to see where all the time, sweat, and sore feet have gone. It has showed me that our passion is a gift that we must share.

Yesterday we were given the award for the top performing group. It felt great to be recognized for the work that we have done. As I look back I am forced to see all of our successes and failures. I realize that if it were not for all of the costume work by Debbie, the ripped pants would not be able to be used and the costumes would never be ready to put on stage. I realize that if not for the senior dancers who push me and inspire me to improve, I would not be able to show the audience my passion for Ukrainian dance. I have also realized that if not for Mykola we would not be able to go on stage and show true Ukrainian dance regardless of injury or illness. He is prepared for anything and has solutions for problems that don’t even exist yet. The award that we received is a testament to all the work that these people have done. It is thanks to everyone that we are able to look back and remember the energy, the emotion, the passion that is – Cheremosh.

Written by Marcus