The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

UKRAINIAN FOLK DANCE

THE TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE FOR UKRAINIANS VARIES WITH
THE AREA FROM WHICH YOUR ANCESTORS CAME. MOST FOLK DANCES
ARE DONE IN CIRCULAR PATTERNS AND LINES. THE MUSIC IS 2/4
TIME AND GIVES INSIGHT TO THE LIFE STYLE. SOME DANCES ARE
PERFORMED BY GIRLS ONLY WHILE OTHERS ARE FOR BOYS. ONE OF
THE MOST POPULAR DANCES, THE HOPAK, IS PERFORMED BY HIGH
JUMPS AND LOW BENDS AND SOMETIMES WITH SWORDS. MOST THEMES
ARE ROMANTIC OR MILITARISTIC AND PERFORMED IN FULL COLOR
COSTUMES.

Submitter comment: MANY PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
CONTINUE TO MAKE UKRAINIAN DANCE CLASSES AVAILABLE TO THEIR
PARISHONERS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Date learned: 00001950S