BONNYVILLE - Organizers, dancers, and parents volunteered their time to cook a traditional Ukrainian meal for the community to enjoy – and raise funds for the Kryla Ukrainian Dance Club.
The event was held on Oct. 18 at the Bonnyville Legion Hall.
Susan Paquin, secretary and adult dancer in the Kryla dance club, was helping out with the supper.
“We’ve had perogy suppers in the past, and they started with our former president Linda Boser . . . For the menu, we stick to what a typical fall Ukrainian supper would be, so things like perogies, ham, and cabbage rolls,” explains Paquin.
The club used to also fundraise by working bingos, until the Bonnyville-based bingo hall closed its doors, so now the perogy suppers are a crucial avenue to raise funds – and they happen more often also.
The Ukrainian dance season runs from September until the end of April, and the perogy dinner fundraisers happen about once a month depending on the club’s schedule. The next dinner is set for Nov. 15.
“Ukrainian dance is becoming a dying art. So, if you want to get quality instructors that are still wanting to teach, they usually come out of the bigger centres. Our instructor is currently coming from the Lamont area, so we have to pay mileage on top of instructional fees,” says Paquin. “Then we have rental fees, and costumes. We often have to repair or replace costumes. It all adds up.”
Paquin explains that the fundraisers help make being part of the Ukrainian dance club more accessible for members.
“We pride ourselves on keeping our registration fees low, so it’s more affordable for families. Some places in the city charge three or four times as much as we charge and then on top of that they have to provide their own costumes - but we have costumes that are club owned,” says Paquin.
The Ukrainian dance club is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and classes take place two times a week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“We try to be inclusive. You do not need to be Ukrainian, it’s open to anybody. Our starting age is three, and right now we have people dancing who are in their 60s,” says Paquin.
When asked about upcoming performances, Paquin spoke of their Ukrainian New Year showcase.
“We have Malanka, which is our Ukrainian New Year. . . This year our Malanka is going to be on Jan. 11 at the Centennial Centre.
Paquin says the performance is going to be a little different this year and under the tutelage of a new instructor.
“We’re going to be presenting the Malanka story. So, there’s going to be characters. Malanka is a baby who is going to be played by an adult. There are goats, pigs, the devil. It's going to be skit,” explains Paquin.
Due to the prevalent Ukrainian heritage in the area, Paquin feels it is important to keep the culture alive
“Ukrainian dance is quite a beautiful art form. If you say ‘Ukrainian dance’ everybody pictures in their mind the women with long ribbons and red boots. It’s something our kids aspire to. Our little ones start off with little slippers, and as you get older, around 15 or 16 years old, then you can progress onto the boots and they get very excited about it,” says. Paquin.
Paquin encourages those interested in getting involved with the dance club to reach out to her.