The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (www.tryzub.ab.ca) of Calgary, Canada is made up of dedicated dancers, ranging from 16 to 30 years of age. Each of these individuals has been dancing for at least eight years, with most having started their dance careers at a very young age at Ukrainian dance schools throughout the country. Some individuals have joined the Ensemble over the years from other dance organizations, with experience in ballet, jazz or other ethnic dance traditions.

Tryzub has performed extensively throughout Western Canada, the United States and Australia. Performances have ranged from fully presented concerts to guest appearances including conventions and festival shows. They have been featured at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, the 1992 and 2001 Calgary Stampede Grandstand Shows, and the 1993 Canadian Football League Championship Grey Cup game. As well, Tryzub has performed several times at the Vegreville Pysanka Festival, Vesna Festival, and Canada's National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba. Tryzub has recently embarked on its first ever World Tour with show d ates scheduled in Canada, United States, Mexico, and Italy.

"Prolisok", the girls choir of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA), whose members range in ages from 13 to 20 years has been in existence in New York City since 1994.

In 2002, Prolisok expanded it reach to the Ukrainian American Youth Association in Yonkers, NY combining its' efforts with both branches to promote Ukrainian culture through the beauty of its song. Currently, members hail from both cities.

To date, "Prolisok" has delighted audiences at numerous cultural festivals and programs in New York City and the Metropolitan area, with a repertoire consisting of traditional and modern Ukrainian songs. Prolisok has shared the stage with groups including Syzokryli Dance, Ukrainian Banudrist Chorus and the Dumka Chorus of NY.

The musical director of the choir is Andrij Stasiw. He is a well-known pianist, conductor and composer and has traveled nationally and internationally with several groups and as a solo performer. He is formerly the conductor of the "Trembita" chorus of Detroit and currently conducts the church choir at Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Church in Astoria, NY. Andrij is a professional accompanist and has recorded with various artists in the NYC area within the contemporary and opera genres.

Prolisok has just released a new CD which will be available for purchase at the festival.

Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble was founded by parents of Holy Cross Church in Astoria, Queens in 1994. Its goal was to keep traditional Ukrainian folk dance alive.

Barvinok had the privilege and honor of having as it's first instructor Pani Roma Pryma Bohachevsky, legendary dancer, choreographer, and instructor. Her career took her from being a principal dancer in the Paris Opera Ballet, to performing as a soloist around the world, creating her own professional ensemble, and finally, after settling in the United States, establishing dance schools with the intention of promoting Ukrainian Folk Dance. After teaching for Barvinok for 9 years, she decided to retire and pass the reigns on to two of her protégés, Orlando and Larisa Pagan. For years, both have been soloists with the Syzokryli Folk Ensemble, established by Roma Pryma Bohachevsky, and Mr. Pagan has been a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem for the past 6 years. Together, they have helped to carry on the tradition that Roma Pryma Bohachevsky began when she first came to this country.

The Barvinok Dance Ensemble is comprised of 3 groups: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Currently, there are 42 children and young adults in ages ranging from 5-20 years old. Not only are these dancers learning the art of Ukrainian folk dance, but they the are given the opportunity to present that art to theirs and other cultures. Just as importantly, Barvinok allows the students a place where they can foster friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

In 1964 Roma Pryma Bohachevsky started her school of Ukrainian Dance in New York, inspired by her love of Ukraine and its dances. Throughout the years the school has trained thousands of youngsters in ballet and traditional Ukrainian folk dance, and many have gone on to professional careers in the world of dance.

Today, there is a new generation of students eager to continue the tradition she started. Overseeing the school is its present director Orlando Pagan and his Assistant Larisa Pagan. Together they continue to promote and foster the tradition of Ukrainian Folk Dance, thus keeping alive the legacy that Roma Pryma Bohachevsky began.

Barvinok is based in South Bound Brook, NJ and is comprised of 3 groups from the ages of five through seventeen. The children dance under the sponsorship of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Barvinok is fortunate to have as its artistic director Hryhoriy Momot, who comes to us from Ukraine with an extensive professional background in Ukrainian folk dance. His masterful choreography and beautiful costumes capture the unique vitality of Ukrainian dance.

Mr. Momot began his formal training in Ukrainian dance at a very young age. He attended a cultural primary and secondary school specializing in Ukrainian dance. He continued his training at the College of Cultural Studies in Polissya and then at the Kyiv Cultural University. Mr. Momot studied choreography, folk dance and Ukrainian costume, and received his university degree and certification as a Director of Ukrainian Folk Dance Schools. After graduating, he danced with the world famous Virsky National Dance Company and toured with them throughout Europe. Mr. Momot joined the faculty of the Chortkivskyj Pedagogical College where he taught Ukrainian folk dance , choreography, and the history of Ukrainian costume. Mr. Momot also directed Prolisok Children's Dance Ensemble in Ternopil.

Under Mr. Momot's artistic direction Barvinok performs dances from different regions of Ukraine. They dance at cultural festivals, community and arts centers and colleges in the greater New York area. Barvinok performs annually at the 9th Avenue International Food Festival in New York City, the Somerset County International Festival in New Jersey, and Ukrainian festivals in New York City, NJ and Yonkers, NY, to name a few. Performances of the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of NJ are very enthusiastically received. Mr. Momot's energetic and intricate choreography and beautiful regional costumes bring alive the spirit of Ukrainian dance.

Iskra Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble was founded over ten years ago as one of the studios of the late Roma Pryma Bohachevsky, a renowned teacher and choreographer. Iskra is currently under the artistic direction of Andrij Cybyk, and consists of over 70 students ranging in age from 6 to 17. Under Mr. Cybyk's tutelage the students learn and perform folk dances from various areas of Ukraine, always with careful attention to ethnographic details in both costumes and choreography.

Iskra was one of only two Ukrainian folk dance youth ensembles chosen to perform at Lincoln Center in 2004 with Syzokryli, the renowned semi-professional Ukrainian dance troupe, at a concert celebrating the life and works of the late Roma Pryma Bohachevsky. The group can regularly be seen at Ukrainian festivals in the tri-state area, including 7th Street in New York City, Yonkers, Newark, Morris County, and others. Iskra took part in the Metro Stars Ukrainian Day in September 2005, performing not only for fellow Ukrainian-Americans who had gathered there, but for all those who were attending the Metro Stars game that day. As a youth ensemble, Iskra is particularly proud and pleased to share their love of their heritage with others. They have performed at "World Culture" events at Newark Academy and in the Westfield, Morris Plains, and New Providence public school systems and at events sponsored by Middlesex County and the State of NJ.

The Kalynonka Dancers are based in Stamford, CT and will celebrate the fifth anniversary of their creation in September of 2007. Their impressive repertoire includes some half a dozen dances, like “Hopak,” “Kalyna,” “Hutsulka,” and “Bukovyna,” just to name a few. Each dance requires a different costume depending on which part of Ukraine it hails from. The aim of the group is to honor the rich history and culture of Ukraine, and help preserve the Ukrainian heritage. The ensemble is comprised of three groups: the youngest group includes children who are 4-5 years of age, the middle group are kids 6-11 years of age, and the eldest group is made up of kids 12-16 years of age. The ensemble includes children born both in Ukraine and here in the US. The group’s director and choreographer is Hryhorij Momot and the assistant director is Olga Grabar.

Stefko is a Ukrainian-American singer songwriter based out of Brooklyn, NY. While best known for his unique brand of indie-folk, Stefko also boasts a musical repertoire of Ukrainian language material. In 2003, he released his first and only EP with original Ukrainian songs titled Sumni Pisni (Sad Songs). He was the principal organizer of the United Artists for Justice in Ukraine concert in 2004. The concert, which was held in New York City, supported free and fair elections in Ukraine during the time of the Orange Revolution. In April of 2005, Stefko was invited to perform at a wreath-laying ceremony in Washington, D.C. attended by Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko. This past December, Cornell University hosted Stefko as part of their Ukrainian Cultural Showcase.

For the past 3 years, Stefko has been performing at New York City venues with cellist Matt Logan. He also organizes and runs The Sly Fox Music Showcase in the East Village which has featured some of NYC's finest underground acoustic performers.

Stefko has recorded 2 solo efforts, the aforementioned Sumni Pisni EP and the English language album Bullfighting. Additionally, he has also recorded an EP of original material with Matt Logan titled Stefko & Matt Logan: The Atlantic Sound Sessions. For more information on Stefko and to listen to selected tracks from the albums, please check out www.myspace.com/stefko and www.purevolume.com/stefkony

The duet has performed over 250 times in various venues from the UN to the Kiev Opera House. Although they perform dressed in traditional Ukrainian attire, the sisters represent an exciting new generation of Ukrainian artists.

Lately, these young ladies have been busy recording songs for their second and latest CD entitled, “Two Sisters”. The album is being recorded and engineered by Slavko Halatyn at BeSharp Studios in Long Island City, NY.

"HRIM" the Ukrainian Band has already made many inroads into the Ukrainian music scene on the east coast of the U.S. Formed during CYM Vyshkil '04, "HRIM" has numerous talents and interests that have brought them together as a band. The "Hrim" guys all enjoy many different genres of music. The unifying thread that keeps them as one, is the fact that they all love to play, sing and listen to Ukrainian music.

Roman Palylyk - lead vocal and bass guitar
John Drobenko - drums, guitar, vocals
Peter Kolinsky - vocals, lead vocals
Roman Kozicky - electric, acoustic guitar, vocals
Peter Drobenko - accordion, keyboard, guitar, vocals

"HRIM" has played numerous Zabavas at Suzy Q, CYM Oselia and Plasts Vovcha Tropa as well as other Zabavas and Malanka's all over the east coast. They are ready to move to the next level with their performance skills and will be performing at weddings, zabavas and festivals in the near future.
Keep in touch with "HRIM", their music and their schedule by logging onto their website. http://www.hrimband.com/ Keep on dancing!!