One-Man-With-A-Mission-Feb 26-2017
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FEBRUARY 26,, 2017 SOWER TThhee UUkkrraaiinniiaann MMuusseeuumm aanndd LLiibbrraarryy ooff SSttaammffoorrdd ONE MAN WITH A MISSION by Lubow Wolynetz, Curator Periodically our friends from there was a large Ukrainian settlement called dance instructors on their own. It is also at this California send various items of interest Zelenyi Klyn). It is here in the city of Vladi- time that he adapted his unique style of dress – to our Ukrainian Museum and Library vostok that Vasyl saw a performance of the an embroidered shirt, a long light overcoat for safekeeping and preservation. Just re- musical play Natalka Poltavka. He became (svyta) and boots. This style of clothing he wore cently we received from them a number enraptured by the drama, music, songs, and es- all his life, wherever he went. From Kalisz he of postcards depicting the prominemt pecially the dances. It is precisely this experi- emigrated to Czechoslovakia, then to Germany. Ukrainian folk dance and ballet master, ence that made him decide what he wanted to To areas he traveled, he organized dancing choreographer, and impresario - Vasyl do with the rest of his life. World War I broke schools, trained instructors, and conducted nu- Avramenko, 1895-1981. During his re- out, and Vasyl was recruited to the tsarist army merous performances. markably active life, Vasyl Avramenko to fight at the eastern front. When the War In 1925 he emigrated to Canada did so much to promote interest, appre- ended there, he returned to Ukraine, to Kyiv where he established numerus dance schools, ciation, and esteem of Ukrainian culture and then joined the Ukrainian national forces especially in the western provinces. These among his own people and even world- working towards an independent Ukraine. Per- schools were attended by thousands of children, wide. He concentrated on one branch of ceptive people, who were aware of the dra- young men and women, and featured hundreds Ukrainian culture – the national dance, matic talents that Vasyl possessed, urged him of performances. In 1930 Avramenko moved to to which he devoted his entire life. He to study at the Kyiv Drama School. This the United States where he established 71 dance maintained that Ukrainian folk dance School worked closely with the first resident schools. There were many group performances, was an independent and important theater of Mykola Sadovsky, 1856-1933. Here but some which were conducted on a grand branch of Ukrainian folk art which he was taught drama and dance by the best scale should be mentioned. One such perform- Washington took place in Pittsburgh, PA needed to be studied, developed, brought teachers in the field. With this sound training, ance occurred in 1931 and took place at the in 1932. A chorus conducted by the into prominence, and then to acquaint in addition to his innate talent and genuine pas- New York Metropolitan Opera House. A choir renown Oleksander Koshets, 1875-1944, the world with it. of 100 voices and 500 sang and Vasyl Avramenko’s Ukrainian Vasyl Avramenko was dancers performed. Folk Ballet dancers performed. In 1933 born in the heart of Ukraine – the Kyiv Henry Beckett, a re- Avramenko’s dancers performed at the district. Orphaned at an early age he had viewer of the Evening Ukrainian Pavilion during the Century of to fend for himself, earn his keep, and de- Post, wrote: ”Today we Progress World’s Fair in Chicago. In 1935 pend on the kindness of his elder siblings. write with eagerness. Avramenko and a children’s dance group He was a bright, inquisitive, lively, clever, We want to tell every- from Baltimore, MD were received by and a keen observer of his surroundings. body about the unques- the First Lady of the USA – Mrs. Eleanor He had a natural ability for mimicry and tionable gorgeous and Roosevelt. The children performed spring personification and a good sense of fascinating Ukrainian dances (hahilky) on the White House humor. His elder brother summoned him program under Vasyl Lawn Easter Party in honor of the First to come all the way to the Far East (East- Avramenko…we are Lady. ernmost region of Soviet Asia, and be- still excited over the This is just one aspect of Vasyl fore that, Tsarist Russian Asia, where kaleidoscopic ardors of Avramenko’s lifetime work. The style of sion for this art, he was now ready to venture the dance, the richness of the chorus, the con- his teaching, his revival of forgotten ritual on his own. Thus began the mission of his geniality of the audience and the fairly inspiring dances, his choreography of regional and life – “bring about the rebirth of Ukrainian naturalness of what really amounted to a bril- ritual Ukrainian folk dances, and creative folk dance”. liant Ukrainian folk festival.” Another spectac- and ingenious theatrical stage perform- After collapse of the short-lived ular performance as a tribute to George ances was uniquely his own. One man Ukrainian independence of the 1920s, with a mission, enthusiasm, and dedica- many of the demobilized soldiers of the tion could do wonders, and Vasyl Avra- Ukrainian National Republic were in- menko did exactly that. What is even terned in the city of Kalisz. Among more important is the fact that in the first, them were actors of the Sadovsky the- second, and third generation of thousands ater and yes - Vasyl Avramenko. But he of young Ukrainian men and women in did not waste time in this camp. Still full Canada and the United States, he instilled of fervor and energy Avramenko im- awareness and pride in their heritage and mediately began the organization of a acquainted non-Ukrainians with our rich dance school in the internment camp. culture. Over a thousand individuals registered. The dancing school was a huge success. From among the dancers, Avramenko chose the more talented ones, and pre- pared them to be his assistants, and later EExxpllorree aanndd Exxppeeriieennccee OOuurr PPaasstt.