On May 24, 2010, I enjoyed the Celebration of Dance event at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in Edmonton. About four hundred dancers took the stage – from adorable six year olds up to the skillful and graceful members of the Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. Different regions of the Ukraine were represented by a variety of colorful and intricately woven costumes.
Dancers traveled to the Celebration of Dance event from all over Alberta, including Calmar, Fort Saskatchewan, Grassland, Red Deer, Two Hills, Grande Prairie, Vegreville, and Edmonton.
I’d like to pass along a couple of tips to make this type of event more enjoyable Tip #1 Arrive early. Because of the huge volume of traffic at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village entrance, the Ukrainian dancer in our vehicle just made it in on time to prepare for her dance routine. Tip #2 Bring your own lawn chair(s). Because there are huge numbers of people attending the event, there simply won’t be enough seating for everyone. Tip # 3 Show your appreciation. Ukrainian dancers from all over Alberta have worked countless hours on their dance routines, so react to their youth, grace, skill, and energy with your enthusiasm!