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Ukrainian new year celebrated in Red Deer

Malanka event held at Festival Hall on Jan. 18

Traditional Ukrainian dancing was the highlight of the night at an Orthodox New Year celebration in Red Deer.

About 140 people attended the Kvitka Red Deer Ukrainian Dance Club's annual Malanka celebration at Festival Hall on Saturday, Jan. 18. (Malanka is a Ukrainian New Year's Eve celebration that is also known as "Generous Evening.")

The event featured performances from dancers of all ages as well as a traditional Ukrainian meal and live music.

"Our attendance is a little lower than last year, but we're still going to make the most of the evening," said Catherine Korenchuk, the club’s president.

"We're start the night with performances by Ukranian dancers from our club — we have a new instructor this year and everyone's been looking forward to a great show. Then we have our Ukrainian buffet and music."

Korenchuk said this event highlights the efforts put in by the club's dancers throughout the year, while celebrating Ukrainian culture.

"It's quite a special night," she said.

"It's important for our kids to know what their Ukrainian culture is like and have them carry on the traditions. We know that Ukraine is going through a lot right now — we're able to carry their traditions into Canada."

Many people who were originally from Ukraine and now living in Canada attend the Red Deer Malanka celebration each year, Korenchuk said.

"They're able to continuing doing some of those things they did in Ukraine right here," she said.

"There's quite a lot of Ukrainian-Canadian population here in Red Deer. There are a lot of things for them to make life more comfortable, including a Ukrainian school that is held on Saturdays, as well as the Ukrainian churches that put together a lot of different events and inviting them to be part of Canadian culture while carrying on those Ukrainian traditions."

Korenchuk added the Malanka celebration wouldn't be possible without community support.

"Thank you to everybody who attends our event. It's exciting that there are people who have a fun evening and think of it as something they want to do each year. We're happy people continue to support our club."

For more information on the Kvitka Red Deer Ukrainian Dance Club, visit www.kvitkard.ca.



Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
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