A Calgary dance company is bringing their talents to the Balkans later this month for a milestone celebration honouring two eastern European countries’ independence. The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society’s touring ensemble — consisting of 24 volunteer dancers aged 15 to 30— is preparing to travel to Croatia for a four-city tour as part of the International Folklore Festival. The troupe was selected to represent Ukraine out of hundreds of groups around the world. The tour is scheduled to take place from Aug. 16 to Aug. 22, with the team originally scheduled to fly home shortly after. But tour organizer John Stadnyk said the troupe decided to stay in Croatia for one extra day after arranging an extra special performance that will commemorate the independence of the country they represent and the country they are visiting. “It’s a unique scenario,” Stadnyk told CTV News at the company’s studio in southeast Calgary on Wednesday evening. Instead of flying home right after, Stadnyk said the company has changed plans and will stay just a little bit longer to perform a celebratory dance on Aug. 24 to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet republic. It’s a more meaningful way to make the occasion than simply being on a plane or recovering from jetlag, Stadnyk said. What will make the performance even more special, Stadnyk says, is that Croatia also celebrated 35 years since it formally declared independence earlier this year. “The two countries are really strongly tied together in supporting both of their journeys to independence,” he said. “It made a lot of sense for us to do this.” The performance will be held at the millennia-old Klis Fortress near Split. Stadnyk said it’s expected to be the largest celebration of Ukrainian independence in Croatia. “This is going to be one of the best tours in Tryzub history,” he said. The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society got started in Calgary more than 50 years ago. It aims to preserve and celebrate Ukrainian culture in Calgary. The troupe just finished a 12-day tour of Western Canada where they raised nearly $250,000 to support Ukrainians who have fled the war with Russia. Stadnyk said those funds will help Ukrainian newcomers settle across Western Canada.
