PROJECT DETAILS
CHOREOGRAPHER: Pavlo Virsky, adapted by Roman Mykyta
COMPOSER: Traditional
PREMIERE: May 2, 2021 | Momentum, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD | Performed by The Ballet Theatre of Maryland
CAST: 3 Women, 1 Man
RUN TIME: 9 minutes
SYNOPSIS:
Inspired by Pavlo Virsky’s beloved choreography, this adaptation reimagines traditional Ukrainian courting rituals through the lens of Ivana Kupala. Young maidens, filled with hope, weave floral wreaths and set them adrift upon the river, entrusting them to Providence to guide them toward their destined beloved.
Blending ritual, lyricism, and communal celebration, the dance offers a poetic vision of love, hope, and destiny.
PAVLO VIRSKY
Pavlo Virsky is one of the defining figures of Ukrainian folk-stage dance. His choreographic legacy shaped the way Ukrainian dance has been presented on concert stages throughout the world.
BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION
IVANA KUPALA
This staging connects the dance to Ivana Kupala traditions, especially the custom of young women weaving wreaths and floating them on water as a symbol of hope, courtship, and destiny.
A POETIC ADAPTATION
While honoring Virsky’s original choreography, this adaptation emphasizes ritual atmosphere, lyrical femininity, and the symbolic journey of the wreath as an image of love guided by Providence.