In the Beginning In September of 1974, seven dedicated individuals put together the framework for the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Calgary's first prominent Ukrainian dance group was created. The Ensemble, named after the Tryzub ('trident' in English, pronounced tre-zoob), which is the national symbol of a free Ukraine. This ancient emblem has endured within the hearts of all Ukrainians as a symbol of honesty, health, power and protection from evil. Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society promotes and preserves Ukrainian culture by providing quality instruction in Ukrainian dance, sharing this dynamic aspect with audiences at home and abroad. The organization fosters the development and professional growth of individuals through the creative expression of dance, and retains its strength through active involvement by the membership, alumni and volunteers.
The first rehearsal was held October 27, 1974. With eight dancers, the Ensemble had their initial performance on January 25, 1975, at the Ukrainian Independence Day Banquet at Mount Royal College. The Ensemble's first full concert followed soon after on April 27, 1975. Membership increased to 38 members after the first year. Prior to Tryzub’s fifth anniversary, the members performed in over 50 shows including television appearances, trips to Montana, Vegreville and Toronto, and a featured guest spot in the Disney motion picture Wolf Boy. Throughout the 1980's, the Ensemble performed at conventions and private functions, and created their own concert productions which were performed throughout Alberta and British Columbia. The Ensemble was invited to perform at the Opening Ceremonies and other venues during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary.
During this time the Ensemble relied on the services of a number of instructors and choreographers including Roman Manastersky, Evelyn Piush, Orest Kotelko, Debbie Korol, Jaqui Stringham, Tim Bell, Terry Zwarych, Terry Sherban, Paul Kravec, Barb Smithwick, Linda Dudar and Karen Konrad. In the late 1980's, the Ensemble chose to move in a new direction, hiring Mr. George Chrunik as Artistic Director. Together, Mr. Chrunik and the Ensemble developed a style that was "definitely Calgarian, dynamically Ukrainian, and distinctly Tryzub". The result of these efforts included the productions Celebrate Tryzub, a 15th anniversary tribute, and in 1992, Glorious and Free - A Tribute to Ukrainian Canadian Pioneers, which celebrated 100 years of Ukrainian settlement in Canada.
In 1995, the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble undertook their first significant touring effort. Their stage production, Reflections of the Soul, featuring a recorded original score, was performed throughout Eastern Canada and the United States, in Montreal, New York City, Philadelphia, Rochester, Detroit and Hamilton. The production was presented the following year throughout Western Canada in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary and Banff.
In 1996, Tryzub moved into their first dance studio, and thanks to the generous support of Ipsco Inc., was proud to call it home for 10 years. Initially, the Ensemble was fortunate to have the interim instruction of Les Dutchak and Lorraine Chanasyk-Alford. The Ensemble followed a new path in March 2000, under the artistic direction Mr. Serguei Makarov. Small Steps, Big Footprints, was presented at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on June 24, 2001, which featured the Ensemble as well as guest appearances by other performing artists from the Calgary Ukrainian community.
Awakenings, the Ensemble’s second touring production, featured two acts: a storyline entitled Winter Fairytale and a collection of dances from their repertoire. The musical score and additional selections from this production were orchestrated and recorded in Kyiv, Ukraine. This production was presented in the fall of 2002 throughout Western Canada in Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton, Vernon, Kelowna, Regina, Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and subsequently in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In 2004, the Ensemble was proud to make their first overseas appearance by touring the production Awakenings, performing throughout Australia in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Perth.
Prior to establishing a new Artistic Director, the Ensemble was instructed by Lynette Fry-Abra and Jim Slobodzian.
Mr. Vasyl Kanevets joined the Tryzub family in 2005 and is currently the Artistic Director of the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. Under his direction the Ensemble toured to Yonkers, New York, and were privileged to perform for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, during their Alberta Centennial Royal Visit in May 2005. Mr. Kanevets’ original choreography was showcased by the Ensemble in guest performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in their Light Classics Series in March 2006.
In 2007, the Ensemble returned to Yonkers, New York, performed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and toured to the Reseña Internacional de Folklore festival in Querétaro, Mexico. 2008 saw Tryzub once again collaborate with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Slavonic Dances. They also travelled to Edmonton to be a guest artist in the Vaganova Ballet Society’s Don Quixote. During Tryzub’s 35th Anniversary year in 2009, they partnered with the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company of Edmonton, Alberta, to create Razom. This first-of-its-kind performance combined the strengths and diverse styles of these three Ukrainian dance groups. Performed in Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg, the show was highly entertaining and successful and is available on DVD.
2010 provided the opportunity for Tryzub to share their art both at home and abroad. This year featured the inaugural Calgary Ukrainian Festival where the Ensemble, School, and Adult Class performed extensively throughout the two day event. In October, the Ensemble was invited to return to the Reseña Internacional de Folklore festival. They toured to Querétaro, Mexico, and were warmly received by audiences in the city and surrounding area. In 2011, Tryzub once again showcased Mr. Kanevets’ original choreography in a guest performance with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, entitled Dancing with Fire. Tryzub also traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, in July, to perform at the Küçükçekmece International Lake Festival. 2012 saw the Ensemble involved in several performances both at home and abroad. They participated in the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede, dancing in the Stampede Parade Prelude, returned to the Vegreville Pysanka Festival and were featured on the CBC/Radio-Canada program Caravane Alberta. For the 10th Anniversary of GlobalFest, Tryzub performed with live music by the Kensington Sinfonia. Finally, the Ensemble toured to La Chorrera, Panama, performing at the VI Festival Internacional de Folklore.
The Ensemble was busy in 2013 with return performances to the Calgary Ukrainian Festival, Calgary Stampede Parade Prelude and GlobalFest. Tryzub’s fourth guest performance with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Hopak! A Ukrainian Spectacular, featured the CPO playing several selections of Tryzub’s own music, arranged for a full orchestra. The evening was full of excitement and energy with a Hopak concluding each half of the performance. Tryzub furthered their relationship in the Calgary arts community by performing with the Calgary Youth Orchestra in their annual Christmas in Song concert. The highlight of Tryzub’s year was the newest collaboration, Razom 2, reuniting with the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and joining the Tavria Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. These performances combined the strengths and diverse styles of the four groups, uniting 50 dancers on stage for Virsky’s Pryvit and Hopak, performed in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.
In response to interest from parents for a Ukrainian dance school that would prepare its students for direct progression into the Ensemble, the Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance was created in 1996. Under the current artistic direction of Mrs. Anna Kanevets, the School is comprised of 130 students enrolled in fundamentals classes, a junior performing ensemble and an adult class. The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance are the two facets that operate as the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society.
In 2006, the Board of Directors undertook the search for a new dance studio. Over the next two years, through the dedication of numerous volunteers and the generous support of corporate and personal donors, Tryzub created one of Calgary’s premiere dance facilities. It features three studios each with sprung dance floors, full-length mirrors, and ballet barres. It also houses Tryzub’s vast collection of colorful, intricate costumes, created both locally and internationally. Tryzub is proud to have its own home and held their official Grand Opening in fall 2008.
The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society is a non-profit, non-affiliated, charitable organization managed by a Board of Directors comprised of dancers and dedicated volunteers. The two major fundraisers throughout the year are the Zabava and GlobalFest. The Society hosts its annual formal, fundraising Zabava dinner and dance, featuring a live band and performances by the Ensemble and Junior Tryzub. Since 2004, Tryzub is proud to continue our involvement with GlobalFest, a world class multicultural festival and international fireworks competition. Tryzub hosts the Ukrainian cultural pavilion, provides tasty Ukrainian food in the international market and performs on the various stages throughout the park. We welcome everyone to become part of the Tryzub family!
Raz… Dva… Tryzub!
The Ensemble The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble currently has 26 dancers, ranging in age from 16 to 33 years. Each of these dedicated individuals has been dancing for at least eight years, with most having started their dance careers at a young age. Some individuals have joined the Ensemble from other dance organizations, with experience in ballet, jazz and other ethnic dance traditions.
Over half of the Ensemble dancers are students, either in high school or pursuing post- secondary education, while others are in the workforce. They receive no pay for their efforts, but dance to achieve a higher level of perfection.
The Ensemble rehearses an average of eight hours per week, with extra time required in preparation for performances, special projects, fundraising activities and maintenance of the Tryzub Dance Studios. Beyond their Ensemble commitments, several of the members also instruct at Ukrainian dance schools within Calgary and throughout Alberta.
Through their dedication and commitment to excellence in Ukrainian dance, the members of the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble continue to reach new levels of technical and artistic ability. They continue the legacy… and we thank them.
Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble 2013-2014
Isabella Adams Morgan DeMone Stephanie Andrews Annikka Dobko Stephanie Bell Victoria Dumka Tyler Bernakevitch Mykola Gauk Jordan Biss Uliana Kanevets Amy Bobyn Natasha Krochak Emma Bolt Sophia Kushliak Kimberly Bushell Brooke Miller Kristen Bushell Christine Ochitwa Natasha Chaykowski Charles Pullan Michael Chez Joren Tzitzoglakis Christina Chumak Rachel Weisensel Anne Copeland Nathan Woynarski
Past Performances The following is a partial listing of the Ensemble's most recent performances over the Tryzub’s 39 year history. Additional performances include the annual Tryzub Zabava, numerous festivals, conventions, as well as community and private functions.
2013 Calgary Ukrainian Festival, Calgary Calgary Stampede Parade Prelude, Calgary GlobalFest, Calgary Hopak! A Ukrainian Spectacular, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra guest, Calgary Razom 2, with Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Tavria Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble and Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble, Saskatoon and Regina Christmas in Song, with Calgary Youth Orchestra, Calgary
2012 Calgary Ukrainian Festival, Calgary 100th Calgary Stampede Parade Prelude, Calgary Vegreville Pysanka Festival, Vegreville 10th Anniversary GlobalFest with Kensington Sinfonia, Calgary VI Festival Internacional de Folklore, La Chorrera, Panama Alberta Culture Days, Calgary
2011 Dancing with Fire, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra guest, Calgary Küçükçekmece International Lake Festival, Istanbul, Turkey Ukrainian Rhapsody, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra guest, Calgary
2010 Spring!, Calgary Reseña Internacional de Folklore, Querétaro, Mexico
2009 Calgary Stampede Parade Prelude, Calgary – Winner of Best Prelude Entry Razom, with Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company and Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg
2008 Vitaemo Festival, Grande Prairie Slavonic Dances, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra guest, Calgary Don Quixote guest artist with Vaganova Ballet Society, Edmonton
2007 Windy Mountain Music Festival, Fort MacLeod Yonkers Ukrainian Festival, Yonkers, New York Las Vegas International Dance Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada Ukrainian Day, Ukrainian Village, Edmonton Reseña Internacional de Folklore, Querétaro, Mexico Ed Stelmach's Calgary Homeless Foundation Fundraiser, Calgary
2006 Chinese New Year Gala, Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary Get Me to the Church on Time, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra guest, Calgary Ukrainian Festival of Carols, Calgary
2005 Calgary White Hat Awards, Calgary Alberta Centennial Celebration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Calgary Hopak in the Park, Edmonton Yonkers Ukrainian Festival, Yonkers, New York
2004 Australia Day Concert, Perth, Australia Awakenings Australia Tour Vegreville Pysanka Festival, Vegreville
2003 Awakenings Performance, Calgary, Thunder Bay
2002 Rexberg International Folk Festival, Rexberg, Idaho, USA Awakenings Western-Canada Tour
2001 Small Steps, Big Footprints - Showcase of Ukrainian Talent, Calgary Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Grandstand Show, Calgary Vesna Ukrainian Festival, Saskatoon
2000 Yalenka Ukrainian Dancers Society 25th Anniversary Dinner & Dance, Calgary The Calgary Dragon Boat Races, Calgary Young Canadians Christmas Concert, Calgary
1999 Tryzub 25th Anniversary Gala, Calgary
1998 Calgary International Children's Festival, Calgary Wally Byan Caravan Club Gathering, Boise, Idaho, USA Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts, 4th Excellence in Artistry Awards, Edmonton
1997 Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Grandstand Show, Calgary Dauphin Ukrainian Festival, Dauphin A Christmas with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary
1996 Rotary International Family Round-Up, Calgary Reflections of the Soul Western Canadian Tour
1995 Interfaith Food Bank Charity Dinner, Calgary Reflections of the Soul Eastern Canadian and USA Tour
1994 United Way Come Together Gala '94, Calgary Calgary Women's Show, Calgary Calgary Winter Festival, Calgary
1993 Vegreville Ukrainian Pysanka Festival, Vegreville CFL Grey Cup Opening Ceremonies, Calgary
1992 Glorious and Free - A Tribute to Ukrainian Canadian Pioneers, Calgary Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Grandstand Show, Calgary
1991 Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Centennial Stage, Calgary Dauphin Ukrainian Festival, Dauphin
1990 Celebrate Tryzub, 15th Anniversary Concert, Calgary and Red Deer
1989 Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Coca-Cola Stage, Calgary
1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, Opening Ceremonies, Calgary
1975 First Performance - January 25, Ukrainian Independence Day Banquet, Calgary
1974 First Rehearsal - October 27, St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Calgary Artistic Director Mr. Vasyl Kanevets, born in Kyiv, Ukraine, began his dancing career at the age of five with the children’s folk dance group at the Kyiv Central Palace of Pioneers. His extensive dance experience led him to the State Ballet Academy of Kyiv, where he received his Professional Dancer Diploma in 1978. Mr. Kanevets’ career continued with the Nadzbruchanka Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble of Ternopil, Ukraine in 1978, followed by the Military Song and Dance Ensemble in Kyiv from 1978 to 1980. Subsequently, he attended the Kyiv State Institute of Culture where he completed his Ballet Masters Degree with Honors in 1985. Mr. Kanevets then began instructing at the Kyiv Children’s Choreographic School where his students received the second and third diplomas in the National Ballet Competition of Ukraine. In addition, Mr. Kanevets provided choreography for the musical theatre production of A Musical Shop, performed by a children’s opera in Kyiv.
In 1995, Mr. Kanevets moved to Canada where he continued to work as a professional dance instructor and choreographer with Yatran Dance Academy, in Edmonton, Alberta, the Koperoush School of Ukrainian Dance in Sherwood Park, Alberta, and the Camrose Dance Academy in Camrose, Alberta. Mr. Kanevets has held various positions with, and is currently the Co-Artistic Director of the Vaganova Dance Society in Edmonton. He has provided choreography for the following ballet performances: Kaleidoscope, Snow Queen, Tin Soldier, One Thousand and One Nights, and Don Quixote. In addition to conducting various workshops and adjudication of festivals and ballet examinations, Mr. Kanevets was a guest choreographer for the 2006 folk ballet The Legend of the Rusalka, a joint production between the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
In 2005, Mr. Kanevets joined Tryzub as the Ensemble’s Artistic Director. The Society has ensured the continued success of the organization by procuring the services of a highly talented and dedicated individual. Mr. Kanevets’ choreography is characterized by intense, technical, and original dances with great audience appeal. His direction has greatly increased the artistic ability and level of excellence of the Ensemble dancers. In addition to his responsibilities as Artistic Director of the Ensemble, he has instructed with the Tryzub School since 2005.
Mr. Kanevets has staged touring shows for the Ensemble in Yonkers, New York (2005 and 2007), Las Vegas, Nevada (2007), Querétaro, Mexico (2007 and 2010), Istanbul, Turkey (2011), and La Chorrera, Panama (2012), along with local annual performances. He has created original choreography for selections of Bedrich Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Antonin Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, and Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird for the Ensemble’s four joint performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (2006, 2008, 2011 and 2013). One of the Ensemble’s highlights under Mr. Kanevets’ direction was the performance for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, during the Alberta Centennial Royal Visit in May 2005. It is with great pride that Mr. Kanevets and the Ensemble move forward, bringing to the public this dynamic aspect of Ukrainian culture and entertaining audiences for years to come. Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance The Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance is an integral component of Tryzub. The School was created in 1996 in response to the need for a professionally operated dance school in Calgary, focusing on the development of future Ensemble members. The core values of the School are excellence, teamwork, community, and pride.
Our mission is to provide the best Ukrainian dance instruction available in Calgary, foster an atmosphere of learning and facilitate the technical training of our students, encourage students to develop an appreciation and love of Ukrainian dance, and guide and prepare our youth so they become the foundation and future of the Ensemble.
The School is comprised of students ranging in age from four to adult. The Fundamentals of Ukrainian Dance classes teach basic skills and steps to children from four to sixteen, as set out in the dance syllabus created by Artistic Director, Mrs. Anna Kanevets. Junior Tryzub provides the opportunity for dancers aged 13 to 18 to increase their level of technical ability and develop the skills and passion that are Tryzub. The Tryzub Adult Class allows former Ensemble members, parents, and others with a love for Ukrainian dance to continue to build and maintain their skills in a recreational environment.
The signing of the School’s first Artistic Director, Mrs. Anna Kanevets, in 2006, was an incredible accomplishment for our organization. Mrs. Kanevets comes from Kyiv, Ukraine, and has dedicated herself to the art of dance her entire life. She began her education in 1972 at the ballet school of Berdyansk, Ukraine, and graduated with honors in 1977. From 1977 to 1981, Mrs. Kanevets was a dancer with the Viterets Folk Dance Ensemble of Berdyansk, Ukraine, during which she performed at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. In 1981, Mrs. Kanevets was accepted into the Kyiv State Institute of Culture, Faculty of Choreography, where in 1985 she graduated with Honours and received her Ballet Masters degree. Mrs. Kanevets spent eleven years in the position of dance teacher and administrator of the Faculty of Choreography, Kyiv College of Culture and was the Artistic Director of the Molodoshchy Performance Ensemble which travelled throughout Ukraine and Russia.
In 1996, Mrs. Kanevets moved to Canada, and became the Artistic Director for both the Yatran Dance Academy in Edmonton, Alberta, and the Koperoush School of Ukrainian Dance in Sherwood Park, Alberta. From 2003 to 2005, Mrs. Kanevets was Repetitor for the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Edmonton, Alberta. In 2006, as Artistic Director of the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Mrs. Kanevets’ choreography was showcased in The Legend of the Rusalka in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a joint production between the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her commitment to Ukrainian dance, she is a director of the Vaganova Dance Society in Edmonton. Currently, Mrs. Kanevets is the Artistic Director for Tryzub School, with the goal of strengthening the talents of the students and building the Ensemble members of tomorrow. Tryzub Dance Studios In 2006, Tryzub began plans for the construction of our own dance studio. Over the next two years, dedicated volunteers and generous donors provided the spark for the Tryzub Dance Studios to come to life. As one of Calgary’s premiere dance facilities, it features 3,000 square feet of studio space. Three separate dance studios all feature sprung dance floors, full-length mirrors, and ballet barres, providing exceptional rehearsal facilities. The main studio supports rehearsals in a theatre sized space with its 46 foot wide and 30 foot deep mylar covered floor and 30 foot high ceilings. The mezzanine studio is 40 feet wide and 30 feet deep with windows highlighting a view of the Rocky Mountains. The 30 foot by 25 foot multipurpose studio features a vinyl tile covered floor suitable for tap, martial arts, yoga and other fitness related activities.
Main Studio Mezzanine Studio Multipurpose Studio
One of the prominent features of the Tryzub Studios is the costume storage area. Tryzub’s vast collection of colourful, intricate costumes is stored in a space-saving, vertical orientation. It also features an area for costume design and construction capabilities as well as fabric and prop storage.
Such a vast undertaking was important for the Tryzub Society because it became the place for dancers and parents alike to connect and share in cultural development. The studio has become a second home to many of the participants, flourishing friendships, new experiences and of course, Ukrainian dance. Uniting all the dancers in one building has strengthened the ties between the all the components of the Society. Younger dancers are able to grow and improve their skills by watching older peers develop their technique and showcase their love of dance. We welcome everyone to become part of the Tryzub family. Board of Directors 2013 - 2014 Board of Directors
Chairman John Stadnyk Vice-Chairman Maria Ochitwa Treasurer Evelyn Goj Secretary Kimberly Bushell* Financial Director vacant Business Director Tyler Bernakevitch* Fundraising Director vacant Human Resources Director Emma Bolt* Touring Director Nathan Woynarski* School Director Dean Mackedenski Member at Large Lorraine Chanasyk-Alford Brent Bushell Charles Pullan*
* denotes member of Ensemble
Contact Information Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance
Mailing Address: Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society P.O. Box 1732, Postal Station 'M' Calgary, AB T2P 2L7 CANADA
Tryzub Dance Studios #115, 3953 – 112 Avenue SE Calgary, AB
Telephone: (403) 720-4840 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tryzub.ca Facebook: Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble Twitter: @TryzubUkrDance LinkedIn: Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society Youtube: Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble