SPRINGFIELD – Vibrant costumes, energetic music, and complex choreography reflected a celebration of Ukrainian culture last week. Families, friends, coworkers, and other community members gathered on the lawn of the Nativity of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church. They pulled up a chair to watch the first performance of the day.
Girls in white linen blouses with intricate red stitching, paired with velvet dresses and layered skirts, and boys in white long-sleeved shirts with red detailing, along with loose red trousers fitted at the waist and ankles, claimed the role of the Veselka dancers that everyone came to see.
Last Saturday, the church at 704 Aspen St. hosted its annual Ukrainian Day festival, which routinely features the Veselka Dancers in performance. The dancers vary in age, ranging from 5 to their 20s, according to Father Richard Janowicz. An 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. performance with an intermission concert by a multi-generational Ukrainian women’s choir, and a tour of the church made up the day’s schedule.
“I’ve gone to the church for over 30 years, and my daughter used to dance when she was little,” said festival-goer Sheryl Dixon.
Dixon was sporting a traditional embroidered blouse from Ukraine with pulled thread work that resembled the ones the dancers wore, and a red beaded necklace that she said had symbolic meaning. She said that females would receive red beaded necklaces from suitors, and the more beads one had, the more popular they were.
Dixon wasn’t the only seasoned celebrator reminiscing about the dance scene days. Robin May said her family began attending the church around 2006. May watched her two younger siblings, Nicky and Tabby, perform on stage to traditional Ukrainian folk music.
“I think all of the siblings at one point did the dancing,” May said. “It’s really nice coming back and being like ‘Oh yeah, I remember doing that.’”
May recalled dancing from the time she was around six until she was in high school. “It’s just so nice going back, but also not having to work too hard and being able to enjoy it,” she said.
Traditional dances by the males highlighted the athleticism that is classic in Ukrainian dance. Fast-paced footwork, squatting, jumping, and synchronized hand and arm movements were among some of the skills they showcased in their Hopak dancing.
Springfield resident Mike Rothermel has engaged in the celebration for two years now. Rothermel, like many others, said his favorite part is watching the kids perform.
The Veselka dancers did more than just dance. There was a wreathing and slashing ceremony for six dancers who were considered eligible for marriage. Three young girls participated in the highly symbolic wreathing ceremony, where their headpieces were swapped with a Vinok.
This traditional Ukrainian flower wreath historically symbolizes a young girl’s purity and eligibility for marriage.
Across from the stage, the scent of hot cooked kowbasa, varenyky, and pyrizhky wafted through the crowd. These traditional Ukrainian foods were available for purchase along with homemade baked goods.
