The Arborg Reechka Ukrainian Dance Club had a busy April, attending both the Manitoba Ukrainian Dance Festival and the Brandon Ukrainian Dance Festival, while also hosting its annual Spring Tea to mark the end of the season.
Reechka president Jenna Pearce said the weekends were long for everyone involved but, overall, the experience was positive.
“The weekends were filled with a lot of energy, nerves and excitement,” she said. “The club had a blast both on and off the stage.”
The club entered 20 routines at the Manitoba Ukrainian Dance Festival — including two solos, four duets, one quartet and 13 group performances — featuring 42 dancers ranging from kindergarten to adult. A total of 19 dances were performed at the Brandon festival.
In addition to the performances, Reechka dancers brought home multiple gold and silver medals, earning scores between 85 and 95 per cent.
The season wrapped up with the club’s Spring Tea on April 26, where they performed for a full house in celebration of the year’s accomplishments.
Reechka dancers spent April performing at festivals and their Spring Tea, showcasing a range of routines and memorable moments from the season. Arina and Olivia prepared to take the stage with their high-energy Hutzul duet, while Kyra and Harper were featured in their character duet costumes. Loa, Harper, Gage and Kyle performed a lift in their quartet routine, and sword dance and Hopak performers took the stage at both the Brandon and Manitoba Ukrainian Dance Festivals. Kindergarten dancers made their stage debut at the Manitoba Ukrainian Dance Festival alongside their instructor, Kyra. Adult dancers shared a light moment before performing, while all members later gathered for the club’s Spring Tea on April 26. Arina Dmitrieva also performed the Ukrainian national anthem during the event.
