The Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company (Edmonton, AB), the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (Calgary, AB) and the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (Winnipeg, MB) have joined forces to create a collaborative Ukrainian dance show featuring nearly 100 performers. This production, entitled Razom: A Fusion of Ukrainian Dance, will be staged in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg in the autumn of 2009.

“The impetus for this production is to showcase the different styles and interpretation of Ukrainian stage dance that are evolving on the Canadian prairies,” said Senior Producer, Darren Lemke. “Western Canada is home to a number of the largest and well-established Ukrainian dance organizations in Canada – so it seemed a perfect fit to join forces to develop this fusion of dance. This is the first time ever that three major Ukrainian dance companies have come together under one banner to present such a diverse program. ”

This collaborative effort will kick-off in Edmonton on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium at 8 pm, followed by a performance at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary the following day at 7 pm. The third performance will take place in Winnipeg at the Centennial Concert Hall on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2 pm.

Three artistic directors were involved in the creation of Razom: A Fusion of Ukrainian Dance. The result was the creation of a 90-minute performance featuring nearly a 100 performers; five dances from each partner. These dances will feature choreography from the western, central and eastern regions of Ukraine, as well as contemporary choreographic compositions, which merge classical and Ukrainian dance elements.

The finale for the show will be a joint dance featuring 48 dancers performing Virsky’s Hopak, a number from the grande master of Ukrainian dance choreography, Pavlo Virsky. Hopak is also one of the most recognized dances in the Ukrainian dance repertoire and is always an audience favorite, as it features a fast paced virtuosic finish to the show.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to harness this caliber of talent across the prairies to design a performance rich in creativity, energy and colour,” says Lemke. “Additionally, this is a great opportunity for dancers from three groups to work with each other. It has allowed them to gain an appreciation for different interpretations of Ukrainian dance.”

Tickets for the various performances went on sale Friday, June 19, 2009 and start at $32 plus service charges. They are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling Ticketmaster at 403.299.8888.