Ukraine’s Performing Arts
Learn more about the performing art as a living tradition of Ukrainian people
Modern interpretations of oral traditionCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
What is folk performing art?
It is a field of artistic and creative endeavours in which folklore components, including songs, musical instrumental compositions, dances, stage works, and games, are presented.
Individual art aspects of oral creation come to life in space and time through live performance.
Ukrainian song
Musical performances are embodied in Ukrainian culture. Genre and stylistic richness are inherent to Ukrainian folk songs.
According to the genre, songs are divided into calendar, ceremonial, family, household, and epics, which include dumas and historical songs.
Cossack Mamay (1728) by Unknown artistCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Cossack songs
Cossacks lived in the XV-XVI century on the territory of modern central and southern Ukraine. Cossack environment became a ground for the new song genre to emerge. Dumas and the institute of kobzars emerged.
Learn more about cossack songs in this story.
The national band of Luka village in the 1980sCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Songs of Luka village
The village of Luka is located near Kyiv. Here, oral tradition maintained calendar and ritual songs (schedrivkas, carols, Kupala songs, and petrivka songs), as well as lyrical songs and ballads from the Hetman, Cossacks, agricultural laborers, and orphan songs.
Chervona Kalyna
The Village Luka Singing Tradition is being preserved by the singing ensemble Chervona Kalyna. The members of the band range in age from 64 to 81 years. The band is headquartered in the village of Luka's club and actively promotes folk songs in the Kyiv region and abroad.
Performance of P. Virskyi ensemble (2009)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Ukrainian folk dance
Ukrainian dances either have a ritual content or are performed during folk festivals. However, they are not strictly associated with ceremonies and have more of an entertaining nature.
Kupala circle dance at the Pivdennyi Buh River. Photo of the 1970's, the city of VinnytsiaCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Vesnianka, haivka and postova dances are performed during spring and summer calendar rites and holidays.
Hopak and kozachok are two of the most popular fast Ukrainian dances, but others include krakowiak, kolomyyka, polka, and metelytsia.
"Malanka", Vinnytsia region (1996)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Folk games
Folk games are a type of folk art that mixes elements of other folk arts, has its own narrative, and is accompanied by dances and music.
Traditional Christmas games, such as "Goat" and "Malanka," are among the most well-known. Malanka is typically portrayed by a young man in the youth game "Malanka," with additional costumed performers.
Mezhyhirya Vertep puppet theatre. Wood, paint, carving. Museum of theatre, music and cinema of Ukraine, 1923 (1923) by Museum of theatre, music and cinema of UkraineCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Folk drama
Ukraine's dramatic and theatrical art developed as a result of the impact of numerous types of folk songs and dance arts, as well as family and calendar cycle games and rituals.
In contrast to the Western European Christmas play, which was solely based on the church, the Nativity Play was blended with folk theatrical culture in Ukraine. One of the oldest forms of Ukrainian musical theatre is the Nativity scene (folk puppet play).
Author: Olena Sobolieva
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