A Ukrainian dance group will perform in Monday’s Moomba parade as an expression of pride in their culture and identity, while desperately concerned for loved ones overseas.
The dancers’ claps, leaps, turns and steps of the traditional hopak folk dance were energetic and expressive as they rehearsed on Wednesday, wearing intricately embroidered costumes.
Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company members in rehearsal.Credit:Joe Armao
Despite the smiles, Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company artistic director Melanie Moravski Dechnicz said the fortnight following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had been horrific for the community.
She said most of the dancers have close family and friends in Ukraine.
“Just seeing footage of our cities being destroyed, of our people fleeing, of the absolute inhumanity that is happening in Ukraine, it is so unfair and so unjust,” Ms Moravski Dechnicz said.
“It’s been so hard to focus on work, on anything. It’s just absolutely heartbreaking.”
Expression of culture: the dancers will march in vivid costumes.Credit:Joe Armao
Ms Moravski Dechnicz said for the dancers, rehearsals at the Ministry of Dance studios in North Melbourne had been a place to share experiences and reaffirm their strong cultural identity.
“Everybody is sharing the same kind of worry and pain that you are. It’s definitely helpful to be together at this time.”
Ms Moravski Dechnicz said she had only briefly considered not taking the dance company Lehenda (which means “legend”, as in storytelling) to the 2022 Moomba Parade, given that dance is usually a celebration.
“In this case, we dance to celebrate who we are, our culture, our history and to make sure that that history is never forgotten, which is so important at the moment.
“Our history is long, and can’t be erased and it won’t be.”
Dancer Nadia Levkut, 26, of Meadow Heights, said it had been immensely stressful since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
“I’ve got cousins who have joined the army and who are off training to protect their homes. I’ve got friends who are hiding in the basement of their apartment buildings because the air raid sirens are going off.”
Ms Levkut said while taking part in the Moomba Parade at such a time might be jarring, “I think it’s important to show who we are and that we are around, that there are Ukrainians in Australia”.
“That maybe we’re a small community, but we’re a really loud and proud community.”
Alexandra Bernyk, 19, of Strathmore, said she has an uncle and dozens of other relatives in western Ukraine, near Lviv, who she is very worried about.
“Every night we call them, we’re always messaging them. It’s just a constant state of uncertainty and stress on our part here.”
Regarding Moomba parade, Ms Bernyk said it might provide a breath of fresh air, for both participants and spectators.
“Everyone now is seeing Ukraine during the war. For a lot of people it’s the first time they might hear of the country.
“I think, being able to show Ukraine’s culture and its beauty – it’s nice, it’s really important.”
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