Cheremosh wins the GRAND PRIX “Golden Orpheus”, a gold medal and a diploma of ABSOLUTE EUROPEAN CHAMPION OF FOLKLORE for 2011! Mykola Kanevets was awarded a diploma for Maestro Academic.
The winners were announced tonight at the closing ceremonies after Cheremosh performed an exhilarating hopak. The award was completely unexpected! Mykola and the cast were thrilled and honored that their hard work throughout the festival was acknowledged and so greatly appreciated.
After planning this trip for five months it was satisfying to see how smoothly it all worked out. I easily took on this challenge of coordinating because I personally felt that it was time for another international pursuit for the company. The opportunity came in the form of the European Championship of Foklore 2011.
As the festival grew nearer, and given the language and physical barriers, at times I had some concerns that everything would not fall into place. However my worries were alleviated upon our arrival as the Eurofolk Coordinators were very accommodating. They were able to get us a room in the hotel for warm up, serve us dinner after our late performances, arrange for bus pick ups at our requested times and even found us a basket to use for Kuban.
The festival to me has been very gratifying as many dancers have expressed their enjoyment of this experience. We have made several contacts and have had many audience members expressing their appreciation and amazement of what we bring to the stage.
This has been a unique experience for me as I have been both a dancer and a coordinator and have enjoyed playing both of these roles. This tour has achieved exactly what I had hoped – to increase Cheremosh’s international presence, to proudly represent Canada, and to allow our dancers to express their talent while at the same time gaining a life time of memories.
Before our trip, I had full intentions to blog at least every few days. But now, seeing as we are coming up on our last days here, I guess it’s time to take a break from the incredible times I’ve been having and filter through some of my thoughts…
11 days ago I embarked on both my first time out of North America, and my first Cheremosh tour outside of Canada. One thing I can definately say is that it has been NOTHING that I expected!! My love for dance and Cheremosh was already strong, but over the last week and a half I began to feel so overwhelmingly grateful that I am part of this incredible group.
Of course as any trip, we’ve had our share of challenges. Mine mainly being the uneven pavement and stubbing my toes MULTIPLE times. Or getting used to the smoking everywhere, even by what seemed to be 12 year olds at the pool! There was also an unfortunate incident with Leah’s arm and a jellyfish sting, but the next day at the beach she got her revenge punching a jellyfish Erin scooped up from the shore (haha). But, our biggest obstacle we’ve faced so far are some dancers unfortunately becoming ill or injured. As difficult as it is to lose any fellow dancers in a performance, it amazes me to see other group members perform flawlessly after being thrown into a new dance and having only one run through. Moments like this just give me such a great respect for each and every person in our company.
We may have run into a few difficulties on the trip, but they don’t even come close in comparison to the amazing parts of our tour. Now this is the hard part, trying to find words and figuring out how to explain why these past days have been so incredible! Being on tour overseas with some of my best friends doing what I love to do is fantastic enough, but it’s been so much more than that. Just getting on that stage and seeing the crowds gather as soon as they hear our music or as soon as they see our colourful costumes in the lights. The moment when we do our final pose and people in the audience start screaming “BRAVO!!!” is one of the greatest feelings. Having people from Ukraine come to us with tears in their eyes because we are keeping the true Ukrainian culture alive makes me feel so unbelievably proud. There’s no better feeling in the world than truely impacting the audience through our passion on the stage.
Along with the performances, we also had our share of downtime. Among all the dinners, beach days, tanning at the pool, partying, tours, shopping, Karaoke, etc. there has been a large amount of bonding and unexpected friendships forming. We’ve both laughed and cried during random toasts people have given expressing their personal passion for our group. I am so grateful to dance among such a great group of individuals who share a common LOVE for what we do.
Thank you Mykola for guiding us the entire way and helping Cheremosh achieve everything we have on this tour. Thank-you Debbie for always ensuring we look our best and always being ready to fix a last minute costume mishap (or 3 for me in one show!) And thank-you to each and every dancer for both inspiring me, and making this experience everything it has been.
~Stephanie Sirman~
It’s an amazing feeling and experience to be dancing with Cheremosh in Bulgaria! I am so lucky to share this experience with my sister and my Cheremosh family. During the festival, it has been wonderful to be able to watch singers and dancers from various cultures around the world. In Old Town Nessebar, we have been performing in a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre, full of history and culture. It is challenging performing in the hot weather, but very rewarding watching the expressions on the audience’s faces while we dance. The energy from the audience is contagious and flows throughout the amphitheater. My favorite dance to perform is Edmonton Hopak. Words cannot describe the feeling of dancing the final Hopak in front of the audience here, the ones watching live back at home and around the world. It is truly a very special and once in a lifetime experience!
What’s one difference you have noticed between Nessebar and Edmonton?
Stephanie: The uneven pavement and cobblestone, and tripping over it
Morgan: No mosquitoes or rain in Nessebar
Brooke: Eating out is much cheaper
Stacia: No mosquitoes
Jordan: There’s club music everywhere (at breakfast, by the pool, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the lobby, at the beach)
Marcus: Life is slow and peaceful
Lachlan: Gorgeous women around every corner
Deanna: People here are very tanned
Katryna: There are lots of little shops instead of big malls
Meriah: Cars don’t stop for pedestrians
Tim: Meals are cheap, and you get a large portion of good food
Jason: Everything is laid back and slow. Fresh vegetables are awesome.
Rebecca: The pace is slower
Daniel: The entire culture is different
Adriana: Gelato is a much more popular treat
Annette: Tomatoes and cucumbers taste amazing
Sacha: Lack of traffic rules is hard to get used to
Amanda: The humidity makes it easier to dance
Nicholas: The beaches are fantastic
Tania: The food
Zorya: Cereal is eaten with warm milk
Levi: Weather is beautiful
Markian: Tomatoes are fresh
Craig: Everything is awesome. It would be better if it were a bit cooler, maybe 25 degrees C
Andrea: The pace is slower, everyone is more easy going and there is no rush to do anything
Leah: The women are tiny and men are larger. Fresh tomatoes
Melania: How comfortable people are with their beach bodies and the amount of time they spend in the sun tanning. Also the large amount of smoking is a lot different.
Erin: Our group has become closer being here; opinions of others have changed for the better
What’s one thing you’ve enjoyed on the trip so far?
Stephanie: The bonding and unexpected friendships that happen in our group
Morgan: How the audience really appreciates our dancing and clap as soon as we come on stage
Brooke: Lying by the pool
Stacia: Bulgarian karaoke and being able to put my Ukrainian language education to use
Jordan: The beautiful sites
Marcus and Lachlan: Performing the Hopak
Katryna: Banana boating on the black sea
Meriah: The waterpark
Deanna: Bulgarian crepes
Jason: The beautiful sites
Tim: The weather and how everything is easily accessible by walking
Rebecca: The sun
Daniel: Dancing on stage
Annette and Sacha: Spending time with my Cheremosh family
Adriana: Being able to read Bulgarian
Amanda: The beach
Andrea: Spending time with people that I don’t usually
Zorya: Being able to use my Ukrainian knowledge to communicate with the locals in Bulgarian
Nicholas: Kayaking on the black sea
Levi: The beautiful sites
Craig: Everything
Tania: Watching the other groups perform, especially the little Russian children because they are so genuinely happy and dance from the heart. They are inspiring. Talking to them after the show made my trip.
Deanna: Bulgarian crepes
Erin: Experiencing and adapting to a new culture, and the weather
Leah: The beach, the friendships, and the shinanigans
Melania: Seeing a different culture
Live internet broadcast of today’s show may not be available as we have heard that the cameras may be in Burgas, while Cheremosh will be performing in Nessebar.
See us online tomorrow at the Closing Ceremonies!
Good morning, today is Thursday, July 14, 2011 and once again the sun is baking! I woke up, threw on my good old Canadian toque and headed downstairs for a great breakfast. As I’m writing this, and sipping my coffee, I am beginning to reflect on some of the past memories and experiences so far on the tour, and wow, where do I begin?… from the hot sunny weather, to the great techno beats, and b-e-a-utiful sights throughout Bulgaria, I almost don’t want to leave! I’ve been Ukrainian dancing for 13 years now and this is my first time sharing my passion for Ukrainian dance with people overseas. I was so curious and nervous to how these new audiences would react. After completing the first performance, I knew right away there was a sense of magic and excitement in their eyes. There is nothing more exhilarating and meaningful to a Canadian Ukrainian dancer than sharing your passion with people on the other side of the world. Down on one knee, striking a pose with your arms stretched out and head tilted effortless up towards the audience shouting that last “Hey!”, beside your best friends…there is no greater feeling in the world that could compare. This trip is a journey of blood, sweat, and tears and as we track on performing the rest of our shows here in Bulgaria, these memories and friendships will last forever!
Yours truly, Tim Skwarok
Surprisingly, the fact that I would soon be traveling abroad with Cheremosh did not hit me until we were at the airport; and I would be traveling to Bulgaria of all places! The overall tour experience has been extremely fun and eye-opening. From my very first years in the School of Dance, I had always dreamed of a tour with Cheremosh. Seeing the country alone has been beautiful and interesting. The first city we saw in Bulgaria, Sofia, provided incredible architecture and very interesting people. Aside from the sites and the thrill of a European experience, the group, I believe, has come closer to that of the family we have always strived to achieve. The room assignments have lead me to get to know my fellow dancers even better than before. You never really know someone until you have lived with them in Bulgaria! Apart from the rooms, the group activities and the free days have allowed the age gaps within the group to become blurred and for everyone to get a chance to converse and interact. As exciting as our current situation is, I cannot wait to return to practice and build upon the relationships Cheremosh, as a whole, has built here in Bulgaria. Over my first tour with Cheremosh, I have learned it is the small things that give you the biggest shivers. Simply answering “Canada” when people ask where we are from gives a sense of a pride that I have never felt before. Although the competition was not what we had expected, the thrill from the audience will make this tour one of my most memorable dance experiences. Practising almost everyday, the other younger dancers including myself have learned the true meaning of a tour, that it is not a vacation, it is all for the dance. It takes a Cheremosh dancer to choose tour over vacation 
On Monday my sister Melania and I decided to escape the beach town of Nessebar and explore the city of Varna. After a two hour mini bus ride along the coast we arrived at Varna’s small bus station. After getting our bearings we made our way to the center of the city. Our first memorable landmark was the Cathedral of the Assumption on the Virgin topped with golden onion domes. It had breathtaking murals and a beautiful dark wood ikonostas inside. After a small lunch at Alex, a restaurant on the side streets we made our way down Knyaz Boris I, a pedestrian mall lined with shops of all sorts. Signs of the Varna Summer festival could be seen and heard everywhere as the city was preparing for music, theatre and dance. From Knyaz Boris I we made our way to the sea gardens where we strolled along the tree lined pathways passing by skateboarding parks, fountains, flower beds, and monuments. Also appreciating this beautiful park where many young families with babies in strollers in the ‘quiet alleys’ as well as many of Varna’s older residents gathering on the benches. It was nice to be in the shade of the trees and to feel the sea breeze while enjoying the sophistication of Varna. Spending the afternoon in this large city was a nice contrast to the beach town of Nessebar.
Cheremosh performs Edmonton Hopak in the beautful amphitheater in Old Town Nessebar
If I had it my way I would only ever perform in theaters like the amphitheater in Old Town Nessebar. It is the perfect setting for a European Folk Championship Festival with the beautiful stone arches and excellent acoustics. Every seat is the best seat in the house. It’s no Jubilee Auditorium with lights, massive change rooms and air conditioning, but Cheremosh has proven before that we will gladly take on any stage – or any “change room” – that we are presented with. It has always been my dream to perform in an ancient amphitheater. Just imagine all the performances that took place so many years ago.
I have to admit dancing in 30 degree and plus weather is taxing, no doubt, but the audience has made it an absolute pleasure. We are not only dancing for the locals, but for people who have come here from all different countries for vacation and to take in the folk festival. One man in particular, from Ukraine, couldn’t show his gratitude enough. He had tears in his eyes, from how grateful he was to have stumbled upon us. For me, that is the most exciting part of dancing. This man probably didn’t expect to see anything like that on his vacation to Nessebar, but we took him to a whole new place.
Tonight, and from now on, on stage I will give everything I have to change someone’s life, perspective or even mood. Thanks to the gracious audience at the Euro Folk festival, I know that I can.
