Production History
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Ancestral Voices
Ancestral Voices is an original dance-theatre piece which explores the story of two sisters: one
destroyed by fate and the other one thriving with her good fortune. Fate has set for them two
disparate paths and though they were inseparable as children, their destinies as adult women have
dissolved that once tender union. Elements of Ukrainian life rituals (baptisms, weddings and funerals)
as well as folk music and folk lore regarding the changing seasons (spring songs, summer fire festival
songs, winter songs) are integrated into the work. The story draws its text from Ukrainian folk songs
and the poetry of Oleksander Oles, Lesia Ukrainka, Taras Shevchenko and Mykhailo Drai-Khmara and
is presented through a fusion of modern dance, puppetry, folk music and theatre. Choreography by
Natalie M. Kapeluck and Mark Tomasic. Written and directed by Nadia Tarnawsky.
Ancestral Voices is an original dance-theatre piece which explores the story of two sisters: one
destroyed by fate and the other one thriving with her good fortune. Fate has set for them two
disparate paths and though they were inseparable as children, their destinies as adult women have
dissolved that once tender union. Elements of Ukrainian life rituals (baptisms, weddings and funerals)
as well as folk music and folk lore regarding the changing seasons (spring songs, summer fire festival
songs, winter songs) are integrated into the work. The story draws its text from Ukrainian folk songs
and the poetry of Oleksander Oles, Lesia Ukrainka, Taras Shevchenko and Mykhailo Drai-Khmara and
is presented through a fusion of modern dance, puppetry, folk music and theatre. Choreography by
Natalie M. Kapeluck and Mark Tomasic. Written and directed by Nadia Tarnawsky.
Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors
Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors, is a dance-theatre piece based on the
novel by Mykhailo Kotsyubynsky (1864-1913) which uses the theatrical
conventions of dance, puppetry and Ukrainian folk music to tell the story of
star-crossed young lovers Ivan and Marichka. Set in the Carpathian Mountains
of Ukraine, the story integrates the folklore of the region's Hutsul people and
paints evocative word pictures of nature and Hutsul culture, a vivid source of
Ukrainian songs, legends and myths. The soundtrack features the folk music of
the Hutsul region and is performed by master musicians: Alexander Fedoriouk
(cimbalom), Vasyl Geker (violin), Andrei Pidkivka (folk flutes) and Nadia
Tarnawsky (vocals). Book by Nadia Tarnawsky. Choreography by Natalie M.
Kapeluck, Sarah Morrison and Roman Lewkowicz. Directed by Michael D.
Flohr.
Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors, is a dance-theatre piece based on the
novel by Mykhailo Kotsyubynsky (1864-1913) which uses the theatrical
conventions of dance, puppetry and Ukrainian folk music to tell the story of
star-crossed young lovers Ivan and Marichka. Set in the Carpathian Mountains
of Ukraine, the story integrates the folklore of the region's Hutsul people and
paints evocative word pictures of nature and Hutsul culture, a vivid source of
Ukrainian songs, legends and myths. The soundtrack features the folk music of
the Hutsul region and is performed by master musicians: Alexander Fedoriouk
(cimbalom), Vasyl Geker (violin), Andrei Pidkivka (folk flutes) and Nadia
Tarnawsky (vocals). Book by Nadia Tarnawsky. Choreography by Natalie M.
Kapeluck, Sarah Morrison and Roman Lewkowicz. Directed by Michael D.
Flohr.
Forest Song
Forest Song is a tale of sacrificial love reminiscent of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little
Mermaid." Mavka, a forest nymph, has been awakened from her wintry slumber by the
music of Lukash, a village youth. Their love blossoms like the flowers of the spring, until
she relinquishes her immortal forest life to become mortal and be with him. The story is
presented against the backdrop of the ancient forests of Polissia in Ukraine, a forest filled
with water spirits, mischievous imps and other mythical sprites and creature. Originally
written in Ukrainain by Lesia Ukrainka, the work is translated into English by Nadia
Tarnawsky. Ukrainian folk songs and folk music were collected in villages in Polissia and
Volyn to serve as the soundtrack for this production. Musical direction by Nadia
Tarnawsky. Choreography by Natalie M. Kapeluck. Directed by Michael. D. Flohr.
Forest Song is a tale of sacrificial love reminiscent of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little
Mermaid." Mavka, a forest nymph, has been awakened from her wintry slumber by the
music of Lukash, a village youth. Their love blossoms like the flowers of the spring, until
she relinquishes her immortal forest life to become mortal and be with him. The story is
presented against the backdrop of the ancient forests of Polissia in Ukraine, a forest filled
with water spirits, mischievous imps and other mythical sprites and creature. Originally
written in Ukrainain by Lesia Ukrainka, the work is translated into English by Nadia
Tarnawsky. Ukrainian folk songs and folk music were collected in villages in Polissia and
Volyn to serve as the soundtrack for this production. Musical direction by Nadia
Tarnawsky. Choreography by Natalie M. Kapeluck. Directed by Michael. D. Flohr.
Catherine Meredith And Anna Roberts
Photo credit: Ethan Nixon
Photo credit: Ethan Nixon
Heather Baur and Artour Bajanov
Photo credit: Sarah Morrison
Photo credit: Sarah Morrison
Natalie M. Kapeluck and Emilia Zankina
Photo credit: Michael D. Flohr
Photo credit: Michael D. Flohr