GENIUS OF UKRAINIAN DANCE

To mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of Vasyl Kyrylovych Avramenko—a renowned Ukrainian dancer, ballet master, choreographer, and film director—Andriy Khavrus, head of the literary-memorial museum of I. S. Nechuy-Levytsky, held an artistic hour titled “Genius of Ukrainian Dance” for students of the Stebliv Lyceum.

The lyceum students listened with great interest to the story of the Maestro’s difficult childhood. During the presentation, they seemed to be transported back in time to old Stebliv, to the era when their famous compatriot was born. Andriy Khavrus displayed postcards from the 1900s depicting Stebliv, as well as photographs of Vasyl Avramenko in various stage roles and videos of him performing the “Hopak.”

The event also highlighted Vasyl Avramenko’s role in the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921, his meeting with Symon Petliura, and his artistic activities at the internment camp in Kalisz, where he organized the first school of Ukrainian dance. In emigration, Avramenko taught Ukrainian dance to many, establishing around 50 dance ensembles—primarily in Canada and the United States—which toured numerous countries. He performed at the Metropolitan Opera and met with Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to whom he gifted a traditional Ukrainian pysanka.

The “father of Ukrainian dance”—as he was known in the diaspora—died in New York. On May 4, 1993, in accordance with his will, Vasyl Kyrylovych’s ashes were reburied in his native Stebliv, at the Zarosianske Cemetery.

Vasyl Avramenko’s stage costumes, awards, documents, photographs, and personal belongings can be viewed at the historical museum of the Korсунь-Шевченківський Reserve.