Brandon Troyanda dancers prepare for festival

The Brandon Troyanda School of Ukrainian Dance held its Westman Multicultural Festival pre-pavilion dance recital on Saturday at the Ukrainian National Hall.

The event was designed to prepare dancers, especially the school’s youngest performers, while allowing families to see the show in a more relaxed setting, Ukrainian pavilion chair Korrie Hicks said.

“This is our pre-pavilion family concert,” Hicks explained. “It’s a chance for the younger kids to get their first exposure or taste of what it’s like to be on this stage.”

The recital plays a key role in helping dancers feel comfortable before performing for large festival crowds, Brandon Troyanda president Darla Nickel told the Sun in an interview.

“Some of these dancers have never been on a stage before,” Nickel said. “It’s a different perspective for them to be looking out at all of the faces in the crowd, and it’s also a chance for them to try on all of their costumes.”

Nickel said many of the costumes are new this year, with several received directly from Ukraine and others sewn locally by Ukrainian immigrants in Canada.

Saturday’s recital featured two performances, one in the early afternoon and another later in the day, showcasing 22 dances in each of the performances. Approximately 108 to 110 dancers took part, ranging in age from kindergarten to adults over 40.

To keep the focus on preparation, attendance was limited to the families of the dancers.

“We offered each dance family five tickets,” Nickel said. “This is where we work out all the wrinkles in our very first performance so we’re ready to go for the pavilion.”

The Ukrainian pavilion has consistently been one of the most popular attractions at the Westman Multicultural Festival, often drawing large crowds and long lineups. Nickel recalled that last year, dancers even returned to the stage late in the evening to accommodate guests still waiting outside.

“They were tired, but they love being up there,” she said. “It’s just great to be able to share our culture with everybody, especially with the challenges that Ukraine is facing.”

Planning for the pavilion is well underway, and volunteers have already filled the schedule, food vendors are confirmed, and several new additions are planned for this year, including a custom-labelled Ukrainian pavilion beer and a specialty cocktail, Nickel said.

Proceeds from the Ukrainian Canadian Association’s souvenir table will again go toward supporting families in Ukraine.

With the dance school continuing to grow, the pavilion will also feature more performances than last year, including additional senior and adult groups.

“We’re about as ready as we can be,” Nickel said. “Everything’s booked, ordered, and in place.”

The Ukrainian pavilion opens during the Westman Multicultural Festival later this month at the Ukrainian National Hall.

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