History of Desna
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Foreword
We’d like to thank our Alumni and everyone else for retaining records of Desna so that the creation of this page and the memories that reside on it was possible!
Desna is proud to display the art form of Dance to audiences of every ethnic background. Dancing not only preserves Ukrainian history and folklore, it is a valuable contribution to the Canadian multicultural mosaic - from which Desna emerged from.
With a history that is as diverse and colourful as the dances performed, the group has a factual history as well as many stories. These accounts and soundbites, like many tales, contain slivers of truth, but are transformed into the unofficial history of Desna as they are told and retold with embellishments to the next generation of dancers being welcomed to Desna.
The Idea
Over 45 years ago, Desna was no more than an idea that was developed by two spirited Ukrainians (Bill Balan and George Strohyj - picture right) contemplating the implications of Canada’s recently established multicultural act whilst watching TV.
Bill and George will always be known as the founding members of what is now Desna.
All members past and present, the Canadian Ukrainian community and enthralled audiences owe these men a great debt of gratitude
Image courtesy of @uketube, Twitter
A to G, Not 1,2,3
The beginning of Desna started in song, not dance!
Officially formed in 1974 and named after the majestic river in Ukraine, Desna sprang forth into Canadian, American and European circles, perpetuating the richness and beauty of Ukrainian culture and tradition.
Under the artistic direction of Alexander Chmil (1972-1976), the Desna choir performed extensively throughout Ontario, demonstrating enthusiastic, yet sensitive renditions of sacred folk and contemporary Ukrainian Song. In the summer of 1972, with sponsorship from the federal government, Desna toured across Canada to showcase Ukrainian culture and tradition to audiences.
Some say the group voted to become a dance group, some say that several members chose to start their own dance group alongside the Desna choir…either way, in 1974, Desna began dancing.
The Formation of Dance
Andy Malette (1974-1979) was the first artistic director of the Desna Ukrainian Dance Group.
Two years after its official inception in 1976, Desna gave their first performance to a standing room only audience at the West Park Vocational High School (Now West Park Collegiate), Toronto.
At that moment, those first Desna dancers sowed the seeds of a performing ensemble that would thrill audiences across the globe.
Vive La France
In 1979 Mark Olynyk (1979-1987) began his seven year term as artistic director of Desna.
Under his guidance, Desna’s repertoire expanded from dances representing the Poltava region of Ukraine to a repertoire covering several regions of Ukraine. During these years the group toured France in the summers of 1983 and 1985 at the invitation of the French Folk arts Council.
In the summer of 1988, now under the artistic direction of Andryj Bachynskyj (1988-1989), Desna embarked on a third tour of France - dazzling audiences wherever they performed. During his final year, Bachynskyj’s Desna performed at the 1989 Metro International Caravan - Kyiv Pavilion, Toronto and won the best traditional show award.
Musicals With Honoured Guests
Inspired by the feats of their predecessors, more members began to join the ranks of Desna - showing their love for Ukrainian Dance and ceaselessly aspiring to contribute to the Desna Legacy.
In the years that followed and under the artistic direction of Tami Pawluk (1990-1992) and Taras Pawluk (1992-1995) Desna focussed its attention on touring and promoting their musical ‘Ukrainians on Broadway’ to audiences throughout Canada and the United States. The show was written by Ihor Bachynskyj, Ron Cahute and Desna members and featured guests Kris Mychalkiw and Orest Sushko.
The group continued to expand its popularity in the metro region through numerous television appearances, community shows and cultural events. Under Taras’s artistic direction, Desna was invited and honoured to perform for Canada’s 125th birthday celebration on national television, before a live audience that included Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn.
Solidifying Desna’s Legacy With Future Generations
In 1996 under the artistic direction of Valeria & Aleksandra Movtchan (1996-1998), Desna opened their School of Ukrainian dance.
This was a period of tremendous development and growth for the group. With the school to perpetuate the spirit of Ukrainian dance, Desna took to the stage with a dynamic, energetic and inspiring repertoire of folk, classical and character dances from various regions of Ukraine. Valeri & Aleksandra Movtchan went on to form The ‘Ukraina’ Dance Ensemble in Toronto.
1996 also saw the creation of the Bloor West Village, Toronto Ukrainian Festival. Desna was honoured to perform at its inception along with Barvinok Dance Group. These two dance groups are the only two groups to have performed at the festival every year since 1996 - becoming a ‘home’ event for the groups to showcase their talents and dancers each year.
In 1999 under the artistic direction of Alexander Sokurenko (1999) - former Virsky dancer and recipient of the Presidential decree title of “Merited Artist of Ukraine”, Desna continued to have an influence on new young talent, determined to show through sweat and discipline, that they could add another chapter to the Desna legacy which celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1999.
Beyond Ukrainian Dance
Since Sokurenko’s departure in 1999, Desna has had the honour and privilege to work under the artistic direction of Yuri and Luba Grekov (1999-present).
Graduates of the Virsky National Academy of Dance in Kyiv, Ukraine and having performed with Siberia’s Godenko Dance Company, Kyiv’s Virsky National Dance Company, Ukraine’s “Hopak” Ensemble, the Grekov’s brought their wealth of experience, passion and love of Ukrainian dance and culture to Desna.
In addition to having a comprehensive knowledge of Ukrainian dance, Luba and Yuri are professionally trained in international dances such as Spanish, Gypsy, Greek, Moldavian, Georgian and Mexican. This led to the expansion of Desna’s repertoire beyond Ukrainian Dancing.
The Grekov’s energy, passion and dedication were contagious and in the years that followed, Desna members found themselves enjoying the same level of enthusiasm and drive that they had only heard tales about by their predecessors in the group.
With the Grekov's guidance and vision, Desna gained a noteworthy reputation across North America, resulting in a busy schedule of performances across the continent.
In August 2001 Desna embarked on a tour to California and in 2002, through an invitation from the Government of Canada, Desna had the unique opportunity of representing the Ukrainian-Canadian Diaspora in a performance for Queen Elizabeth II during her 50th Jubilee celebrations in Toronto.
In the summer of 2004 (and multiple summers before and after) Desna performed a full showcase of Ukrainian Dance at Untermyer Park, Yonkers, New York which became and still is a yearly performance on the Desna Calendar. The year was rounded off with Desna celebrating its 30th anniversary.
In 2005, in conjunction with the Grekov’s and former members of the Virsky National Dance Ensemble, Desna hosted a performance of a broad range of Ukrainian Dance talent from Toronto to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Virsky’s birth.
Desna celebrated their 35th anniversary in 2009.
Continuing and cultivating the legacy
Throughout the 2010’S Desna expanded its reach within the Toronto area and North America, whilst growing stronger and closer as an organisation.
During this time, Desna became wedding performer favourites and also performed at various multicultural, community (both in and out of the Ukrainian scene) and city performances such as: Chinese New Years, Jewish, South Asian and Lithuanian events, Christmas Markets, International Youth Day at City Hall, Art Incentive Show and many more.
In 2011 Larsia Makuch restarted Desna School and it has been thriving ever since. With the help of Lesia Harhaj, Halyna Polischuk and Adriana Wasylyk, the growth of Desna School saw the next generation starting to perform at festivals such as Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba alongside and independent to Desna company.
In 2014 Lesia Harhaj, Halyna Polischuk, and Adriana Wasylyk decided to unite dancers from various groups to learn more about their Ukrainian culture and enjoy dance in an outdoor environment. This resulted in the birth of Chervoni Boots Summer Camp.
Desna celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2014.
2016 saw Desna Company tour Ukraine training and perform in Kyiv, Slavske and Lviv. Various workshops were held at the Virksy studios and other locations with instructors such as Tatyana Lyshaenko, Andrey Demeshchuk, Vitaly Voloshyn, Vasyl Petrovich and Evgeniy Chernov.
The group also had the honour of having a personal visit from Myroslav Vantukh, Artistic Director of Virksy.
This tour was quickly followed by Desna School in 2018. Eleven students of Desna School and their parents travelled to Ukraine for a two-week adventure exploring three regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv and Karpaty. Full trip Summary
The purpose of the trip was for the students to explore their cultural roots and deepen their understanding of what it means to be of Ukrainian descent, as well as learn new techniques from Ukrainian dance instructors and have the opportunity to perform for a Ukrainian audiences.
45 years strong & Covid-19
2019 was a record year of performances by Desna (both School and Company, combined and separate) at numerous weddings, social events and festivals such as: Missisauga Ukrainian Festival, Bloor West Village, Toronto Ukrainian Festival, World Fest Yonkers, NY as well as first time performances at Ufest, Edmonton and Captial Ukrainian Festival, Ottawa, Quebec- the group were performing non stop throughout the year in the build up to their 45th year anniversary.
2020 was looking to be another record year with early performances in January, February and March at Chinese New year, weddings, and the Youth Festival of Ukrainian Dance. Performances were scheduled right throughout the year, however due to the Covid-19 Pandemic in mid March of 2020, all dance was put on hold indefinitely.
Company members continued with virtual practices and were able to start outdoor, socially distanced, in person practices come at the end of July 2020. All Desna School dance activities were put on hold.
With this time away from dance and the new challenges ahead for the foreseeable future, the board of directors with support from parents and other members of Desna, were able to focus their attention on creating a stronger Desna for the future. With talks and ideas of combining the school and company in 2018 and the 45th anniversary (2019) marking a significant point of collaboration between the school and company, Desna was able to re-form as one stronger organisation with an identity, website and processes for the future.
