Eleven of the 12 entries from the Canora Veselka School of Dance at the Brandon Troyanda School of Ukrainian competition on April 15-17 won gold medals – and the 12th won the silver medal.
Though the Veselka dancers presented their annual concert on April 10, dance practice continued in preparation for the Brandon festival a week later. Several groups of dancers did not compete in Brandon, but will be joining the others for the annual Kalyna Festival of Ukrainian Dance on May 5-8 at the Anne Portnuff Theatre in Yorkton.
Gold medal winners
at Brandon competition
Receiving a mark of 95 for their Volyn performance, members of the Intermediate II and Seniors group are: Courtney Ostafie, Carmen Stusek, Emma Eiteneier, Kelsey Chupa, Mackenzie Gulka, Dekea Ryczak, Ashley Stusek, Carley Ostafie, Abbey Sakal, Abby Gulka, Jill Gulka, Jasmine Knihniski and Jordelle Lewchuk. This group also won gold medals for a Bukovynian performance that earned a score of 92 and a Poltava dance that earned a score of 91.
Members of the Intermediate I Mixed group which earned a score of 91 for a Poltava performance were: Drea Beblow, Brooklyn Korol, Megan Scherban, Cassandra Danyluk, Larissa Makowsky, Emily Owchar, Jake Statchuk, Carson Ostafie, Jacob Gulka, Brayden Ostafie and Mathew Dmitruik. This group also won gold for a Volyn dance that earned a score of 93.
Earning a score of 92 for a Hutzul performance, members of the Intermediate II Girls group are: Kelsey Chupa, Mackenzie Gulka, Dekea Ryczak, Ashley Stusek, Carley Ostafie, Jordelle Lewchuk, Jill Gulka and Jasmine Knihniski.
The Junior Mixed group received a mark of 92 for its Hutzul performance. Members of the group are: Linden Roebuck, Henry Craig, Madison Kryski, Jenna Korol, Jack Craig, Matthew Makowsky, Olivia Tratch, Jayden Burym, Noah Prychak, Chase Hembling, Gasper Thomas, Jordan Makowsky, Alaina Roebuck, Cambrie Ostafie, Meekah Unick, Irena Yannoulis, Methyl Trask, Makayla Heshka, Tyson Korol and Cody Vangen. The group earned a score of 92 and won the gold for its Poltava performance. With a score of 89, the Junior Mixed won silver for its Polissa performance.
Members of the Senior Girls which earned a score of 90 for its Gypsy performance are: Abby Gulka, Abbey Sakal, Emma Eiteneier, Courtney Ostafie and Carmen Stusek.
Solo dancers winning gold were: Abby Gulka who earned a score of 93 for a Hutzul dance, and Jill Gulka, who earned a score of 93 for her Poltava performance.
The Novice I and the Novice II mixed groups did not compete in Brandon but they will be performing at the Yorkton Festival.
Members of the Novice I group are: Jill Gulka, Cassidy Wolkowski, Tessa Prychak, Madison Dutchak, Jake Rewakowsky, Wade Vangen, ZarinGodhe and Reid Kitchen.
Members of the Novice II Mixed group are: Reein Godhe, Jordan Zbitniff, Joshua Prychak, Liam Trask, Victoria Zbitniff, Danielle Dutchak and Olivia Tratch.
