Sarah Uschak ’11 is bringing a taste of Slavic culture to Wooster through Ukrainian folk dance. For the last three weeks of fall semester, Uschak began teaching folk dance classes. The program has started up again for the spring.
Uschak, an anthropology major from Houston, Texas, has familial ties to Ukrainian culture. Like many other Ukrainian immigrants, Uschak’s family established themselves culturally at a local church. Uschak has danced for eight years with the Zhuravli Ukrainian Dancers of Houston under the direction of her aunt.
The Zhuravli Ukrainian Dancers of Houston is a group dedicated to preserving the traditional folk dances, culture and music of Ukraine. The group was started in 2000, and has performed at cultural festivals around the state since then.
To bring her passion for dance and culture to back Wooster, Uschak taught classes through the Let’s Dance Society two years ago. Last semester, she and fellow dancer Cathy Trainor ’11 organized a colorful folk dancing performance at the International Culture Show.
Uschak showed up to last Monday’s lesson in loose yoga pants and listened to rap music as she stretched in preparation for the lesson.
“I’ve been wanting to teach Ukrainian dance during my whole career here at college,” she said as a few girls filtered into the room. “I think it’s really important to represent Polish and Ukrainian culture to highlight the diversity of our campus. It’s great to finally be doing something. Plus it’s a great workout.”
Since the classes started this term, six to seven students usually attend lessons regularly. Uschak is currently in discussions with the Ambassadors Program to organize a Slavic culture show to give her students a chance to perform.
Ukrayins’ki Narodno-Stsenichni Tantsi, or Ukrainian Folk-Stage Dances, are stylized representations of traditional dances and their characteristic movements choreographed for concert dance performances. This stylized art form has evolved over history so much that few purely traditional dances remain today. Ukrainian immigrants brought their native traditions to the lands they settled, largely in Canada, Australia, the United States, and South America. Many village dances had survived the trip abroad and kept their traditional place at community gatherings.
Ukrainian dance is a vibrant display of music and energy. Colorful, flowing costumes embroidered with flowers and adorned with ribbons whirl as the dancers skip and spin to the tune of lively traditional instrument ensembles. Along with traditional pysanky ó otherwise known as Easter eggs ó it is one of the most characteristic examples of Ukrainian culture.
Classes are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in Stevenson Hall’s dance studio.