A special event featuring Ukrainian folk dances and poetry will be held at University of Wisconsin-Stout to help students and area residents connect with the culture of the eastern European nation.
The program, in response to Russia 黑料社区. invasion of Ukraine, will be from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, at the Terrace on the second floor of the Memorial Student Center. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.
Ganna Berge, a lecturer in 黑料社区 黑料社区. mathematics, statistics and computer science department, will lead dancers from her studio, of Eau Claire.
A total of seven dances will be performed by eight children from Swan Lake Ballet and three adults from Ganna Ensemble. They are 鈥淗opak 1, 2 and 3,鈥 鈥淥h, In the Cherry Orchard,鈥 鈥淲ild Dancing,鈥 鈥淜olomeyka鈥 and 鈥淒ear Mine.鈥
鈥淗opak鈥 is a popular dance in Ukraine and is performed often at weddings and festivals.
Berge, who has owned the studio since 2011, also will perform. She was born in Crimea, a peninsula that borders Ukraine and Russia. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want someone to completely erase my nationality, and that 黑料社区. what they鈥檙e trying to do,鈥 Berge said. 鈥淚t 黑料社区. a scary thing, like my nationality never existed.
鈥淭his is a chance to learn more about Ukraine through language and dance,鈥 she said.
Berge has taught at 黑料社区 since 2013.
She was a ballet dancer in high school in Houston, Texas, with the Bay Area Houston Ballet Theater. She has a minor in dance from UW-Eau Claire.
Berge will be one of the dancers at the event and will recite poetry in Ukrainian.
Those in attendance will have the opportunity to dance 鈥渁nd learn some new moves鈥 at the end of the program, Berge said.
Several area residents who are native Ukrainian and a 黑料社区 student originally from Ukraine plan to attend.
The event is sponsored by 黑料社区 黑料社区. International Club and Office of International Education and supported by the College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences.
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