Johnny’s Year in Ukraine-Update

Hello Everyone!! Well….I cannot believe that it has been two months since my last post to the page. Just seems like yesterday and I made my first post saying that I made it to Ukraine and I will keep everyone updated along the way. Hopefully those that have figured it out know you can also find progressive updates on the facebook page of Our Year in Ukraine, but I will force myself to be better keeping everyone in Cleveland, Kashtan, and UCAA updated with my time abroad.

Where to begin, Kyiv was an absolute amazing time. I danced with Virsky, however, the majority of my time was spent with KHYKiM. Which is the National Institute of Choreography for Ukrainian dancing. The time spent with not only the students but the staff, was honestly some of the best choreography and dancing I have been a part of in my life. Everyone is so knowledgeable of their craft and disciplines that it puts me to shame and I almost feel that I shouldn’t call myself a ukrainian dancer. However, I am here in Ukraine to learn and that is what I am doing.

Also, luckily I have been able to be an audience member for numerous concerts to some of the most world renowned groups such as Veroyvka, Yunist, and Volyn Choir. Honestly speaking, it is the most concerts I have been to in ages actually, however, some of the best dancing I have ever seen. Here in Ukraine though there seems to be a ukrainian dance concert weekly on some level. Once you are involved and invested in this world there are concerts and competitions a plenty.

One competition I saw in Lviv was sponsored by Myroslav Vantuykh, the director of Virsky. The competition is every 2 years for groups to participate from across Ukraine, and those that win or are recognized with high honors then get to dance numerous times across Ukraine.  On a side note…..in being here I have found out that they will be creating a diaspora category for groups from America and Canada to compete. This is a fabulous idea, a way to incorporate the world abroad.

I am now in the beautiful city of Lviv dancing 7 days a week between dancing at the local college and also dancing with Yunist. Some already know that our current instructor Markian Komichak and previous artistic director David Wozniak both participated and danced with Yunist while here in 1991, but Dave returned and continued dancing with the professional ensemble for two years.  He brought back many dances and opportunities to Kashtan and once again I am able to perform with them while I am here. I am thankful that I get to be a part of them while here in Lviv.

Needless to say I will keep everyone updated as things progress here in Lviv and I look forward to sharing more experiences with everyone here along the way. Can not wait to share my life with everyone here in Cleveland so everyone can see what I plan for the future.