‘Astonishing’: Ukrainian evacuees learn heritage dance for first time in Calgary | 24CA News

Ukrainian dance is a typical exercise for western Canadian youngsters, however for some Ukrainian kids fleeing the warfare, that is the primary time they’ve ever tried it.

Olena Brahina was a dance teacher in Zaporizhzhia, however life as she knew it in Ukraine ended final March when Russian forces shelled a constructing close to the nuclear energy plant near her residence.

“It’s still hard because every day, several times, they have the alarm and they try to find some place where they can hide because no one can know where they can drop the bombs,” Brahina mentioned.

Right after the March 2022 assault, Brahina, her husband and two younger kids packed two baggage and left every part else behind. They dwell in Calgary now the place Brahina works as a dance teacher on the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society.

She’s grateful her youngsters are capable of go to highschool and dance right here. Back residence, she says they solely have on-line courses due to the warfare.

“In Zaporizhzhia, it’s hard when they had no electricity for months so they couldn’t study,” Brahina mentioned.

Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society is nonprofit charitable group in Calgary selling Ukrainian dance and tradition. It’s run by volunteers and supported by donors and grants.

Fifty Ukrainian refugee kids now go to class right here.

Lex Oleksienko, his spouse and two youngsters got here to Calgary from Kyiv not too long ago.  His five-year-old daughter has simply began dance for the primary time.

“It is amazing. We were surprised that the school is existing actually and secondly, the opportunity itself is great because it’s something we were planning back at home,” mentioned Oleksienko throughout dance classes on the southeast Calgary studio Saturday.  “It’s a super opportunity and we appreciate it.”

“There’s a tremendous sense of pride in them coming to Canada and hearing them say these Canadians are carrying on Ukrainian traditions,” mentioned John Stadnyk, director of Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society

He mentioned lots of the new college students are taking conventional Ukrainian dance for the primary time.

“It was astonishing to me actually. I had no idea. Your first time taking Ukrainian dance is happening in Canada? It was a proud moment for me, for sure, having been involved in promoting Ukrainian dance for most of my life,” Stadnyk mentioned.

The inflow of recent college students has led to a 50 per cent development within the dance society, however that comes with a value: they want extra costumes and lecturers.

The dance group has began a fundraiser to create a scholarship for newcomers to allow them to proceed attending freed from cost. The intention is to lift $90,000.

“If we can help them connect with community, then that is our objective. When you see these kids connect with other kids, they light up,” Stadnyk mentioned.

Brahina mentioned she’s excited to be a part of a means to assist newcomers like herself.

“The parents are happy that that we are here in peace and our kids can continue to study. I have two kids and I know it’s so hard to change places and start here and to communicate with other kids, but here it’s like we have a small Ukrainian island where they can touch Ukrainian culture,” Brahina mentioned.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.