CYM Perth Oseredok
Vohon Ukrainian Cossack Dance Group, Perth
Vohon Ukrainian Cossack Dance Group (Perth) is a CYM-based dance group for
anyone aged 13-17 interested in performing Ukrainian Cossack dancing. At the
present time, Vohon is a 10-person strong group with people of many different
dancing levels. For some, the Vohon Dance Group was their first experience of Ukrainian Cossack dancing.
For others, it was a chance to continue practising and refining their skills
learnt with previous Ukrainian dance groups. But, for all who are apart of Vohon, it is an opportunity
to learn as much as possible about Ukrainian Cossack Dancing, meet many other
Ukrainians from Perth, Australia and Internationally and to continue the dance tradition within the
Ukrainian Perth community.
Vohon Today
Vohon has grown and is now accomodating close to a dozen dancers ranging from the ages 13 to 18.
Recently, with the help from CYM Sydney dance instructors, Vohon has continued to extend its reporteoire
to incorportate two new dances from a weekend workshop held during the winter school holidays. Vohon
plans to continue dancing around Perth and hopes to perform to a wider audience in the future.
History of Vohon
The Vohon Dance Group's foundations started with a group of eight boys eager
to continue Ukrainian Cossack dancing after graduating from Ukrainian school.
Under the instruction of Father Wolodymyr Kalinecki, a new independent group
was started simply known as the "Ukrainian Cossack Dancers". For two years,
the group performed at many Ukrainian events, community events and multicultural
events. Some of the largest performances by the group in Perth
were at the Northam Multicultural Festival and the City of Stirling Multicultural Festival.
However, by far the largest performance by the Ukrainian Cossack Dancers
was in Albury-Wodonga in Acknowledgement of the Ukrainian Olympic Team in
September 2000.
Ukrainian Cossack Dancers at the City of Stirling Multicultural
Festival
After two years of performing as the Ukrainian Cossack Dancers,
interest had grown in the group and was soon accompanied by female dancers.
The new group was supported by CYM Perth and under the instruction of Erica
Konderewicz and Andrij Mandyczewsky. At the start of 2001 the new group
was officially established and was given the name "Vohon Ukrainian Cossack Dancers, Perth".
The first task for this new group of males and females, was to come up with a new dance and have it
ready for performance in six months time for the Sydney Zlet in 2001. After
the many months of practise and instruction, this goal was archieved and the
first ever perfomance made by Vohon was on Access 31 television in June 2001.
One week later, the group made its first public performance at the Sydney
Zlet with the "Pryvit".
The group grew in numbers and ability and continued to peform at many of
the regular events that the Ukrainian Cossack Dancers had performed at
previously.
One the major turning points in Vohon's growth came in July 2002, when the
group was invited by the Roztiazhka Ukrainian Cossack Dancers to take part
in a two-week workshop with Sergei Makarov. Sergei Makarov is a former
performer of the Virsky Ukrainian Dance Group and is a current instructor
in Canada. The workshop taught both dance groups many skills and its goal
was to teach all present the Virsky Hopak. Since then, a close relationship
has formed between both the Vohon Dance Group and the Roztiazhka Dance Group
with many dancers from Vohon now dancing in both groups. Since the workshop,
many of Vohon's dancers have performed live on Access 31 television, Australia-wide
on SBS television and live on the internet.
At present, Vohon is still strong and looking for any opportunity to perform.
Now with close links to the other two Ukrainian dance groups in Perth, Vohon
continues to look for new ideas and people to join the group and help teach
people about Ukrainian Cossack Dancing.
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