Ukrainian refugee finds comfort in dance

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This article was published 10/11/2022 (1316 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Olga Melnyk’s life was turned upside down when Russia invaded her home country Ukraine in February, leading her and her family to seek refuge away from the war. But throughout this time, at least one thing has remained the same — her love for dance.

While Melnyk and her family only arrived in Manitoba this past summer, she has already booked a part-time teaching gig at both the Brandon School of Dance and the Yednist School of Ukrainian Dance.

Although Melnyk is still working on her English-language skills, representatives from both institutions said she brings plenty of value to the local dance scene in terms of her experience as a teacher and her cultural background.

This is particularly true for the Yednist School, which aims to give its students an authentic experience through traditional forms of Ukrainian dance, said co-founder Dave Federowich.

Since there is a ceiling on the level of authenticity Canadian-born instructors can provide, Federowich said, Melnyk helps bridge that divide, as she had been dancing in Ukraine for much of her life and even opened her own studio.

“Our families have welcomed her with open arms,” Federowich said Wednesday.

“The kids think it is an honour to have someone from Ukraine come and teach them, so they’re very attentive to her when she’s teaching.”

Melnyk, who has been teaching classes with the Yednist School since September, has encountered a slightly different experience through her work with the Brandon School of Dance. She began her employment there as a weekend receptionist and just moved to teaching beginners ballet for young children in October.

Even though the position isn’t as culturally specific as her role at the Yednist School, Melnyk said she still gains a lot from working alongside Brandon School of Dance instructor Alida Tromp, a fellow immigrant who also arrived in Westman over the summer.

But because Tromp grew up speaking English in her native South Africa, she’s able to serve as a direct support system for Melnyk and help her overcome the language barrier.

“When we started, we wrote down a whole lot of things in English and she would go on her phone app to translate,” Tromp said. “Then she would come back at the end of the class and say, ‘I don’t know how to say those things,’ and we would write it all down again on paper. So she’s been an absolute star.”

Melnyk said she grew up in the western Ukrainian city of Kosiv and later attended the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts to study dance.

After graduating from university, Melnyk returned to Kosiv to start her teaching career, eventually opening her own studio around five years ago.

However, Melnyk’s future in Ukraine entered uncertainty on Feb. 24, when Russia launched a major military invasion, triggering a global refugee crisis as millions fled the ensuing violence in Europe.

After fleeing Ukraine a day or so after the initial conflict, Melnyk and her family made their way to Germany before eventually arriving in Canada during the summer.

The family stayed in Souris for several weeks before moving to Brandon and are now trying their best to adjust to life in Canada as the war in Ukraine drags on.

For Melnyk, this means continuing in her position as a part-time dance instructor while her two children attend school, and her husband works as a truck driver for a local transport company.

Even though the last number of months have been difficult, Melnyk takes solace in the kindness and support her family has received, both through organizations like Westman Immigrant Services and the region’s prominent Ukrainian community.

Westman Immigrant Services has assisted in the resettlement of more than 200 Ukrainian newcomers in the region since the Russian invasion began in February, according to the organization.

In terms of whether her family plans to stay in Brandon permanently, Melnyk still isn’t sure, given that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine changes daily.

“The part of Ukraine where we live is not dangerous,” she said, adding Kosiv is located far away from the combat-heavy eastern front.

“But you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

In the meantime, Melnyk is taking steps that point to a longer stay in Westman, including signing up for English classes at Assiniboine Community College and helping Yednist School students prepare for upcoming dance contests.

“We’re looking at a couple competitions in the spring … so she’s preparing us for those,” Federowich said.

“Traditionally our group dances throughout the summer and we end up going to the Ukrainian festival here in Dauphin to compete … so all of that preparation starts now.”

Speaking as someone who is dealing with her own recent transition to life in Canada, Tromp is confident that Melnyk and her family will continue to thrive in their new environment, especially since they’ve been so resilient and open to change thus far.

“I think one just needs to keep an open mind,” Tromp said. “You made a huge move, but you have to embrace what comes your way … and stay positive.”

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