The Veriovka Ukrainian National Dance Company will transform a piece of Penn State into its Ukraine homeland with its high energy cultural-focused performance Monday night.
The Eisenhower Auditorium may never be the same after an array of colorful costumes, music and dancing of the Ukrainian culture storms its stage.
The sight of women, with rings of flowers and streamers in their hair wearing brocaded dresses with intricate aprons and red boots on their feet, will balance out the sight of men in baggy, tight-ankle silk pants, blouses and vests, waving their swords.
Two native instruments, the bayan (accordion) and the sopilka (woodwind), will mix with instruments like violins, drums, trumpets and others to blast historical ballads, Cossack and chumak songs, and Gyspy melodies throughout the building.
The dancing will intertwine the sight and the sound with movement. Audience members will see perfect footwork, partnership and ring patterned dances. Viewers will also become a part of the male stomping and fighting of a Cossack dance. The intensity level will become so great that a woman will cease the tension. "In other numbers, whenever the testosterone level leaned toward overkill, the women would arrive to calm the waters with a garland dance or by taking tiptoe steps so tiny, the men had to stop their proud stamping to watch them float," according to Jennifer Fisher in a review for the Los Angeles Times.
With its colorful costumes, cultural music and emotional dances, the company hopes to enrich its audience with the beauty and humor of the Ukrainian culture.
"It promises to be quite a festive evening of folk song, dance and humor, highlighting the rich traditions of one of the world's liveliest cultures," said Peter Wray, press and public relations manager of the Center for the Performing Arts.
The company has performed all over the world, throughout Europe, the Americas and the former Soviet Union. This is the first time the troupe will appear at Penn State on their second tour of the U.S.
The company will perform its cultural act of song and dance at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Eisenhower Auditorium.
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for students, $10 for Penn State students and $13 for children 12 and younger.
