P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble

Virsky in performance

P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble (Ukrainian: Національний заслужений академічний ансамбль танцю України ім. П.П.Вірського; also referred to simply as Virsky) is a world-renowned Ukrainian dance company based out of Ukraine, well known for its innovative approach to the art form. The ensemble was created in 1937 by Pavlo Virsky and Mykola Bolotov, and guided by Pavlo Virsky until his death in 1975. During World War II, Virsky performed for the soldiers at the front. In 1980, the company's artistic direction was overtaken by Myroslav Vantukh, who had been a disciple of Pavlo Virsky.[1] Virsky's aim is to create dances that embrace historical Ukrainian dance traditions as well as dances that are innovative and forward-moving.

Repertoire

Choreography by Pavlo Virsky

• Povzunets (English: Crawler), a Cossack comedy dance
• Oi, Pid Vishneiu (English: Oh, Under a Cherry Tree)
• Zaporozchi, National Ukrainian dance of Cossacks
• Vyshyvalnytsi
• Moriaky (English: Sailors)
• Hopak
• Vyshyvalnytsi (English: Embroideresses)

Choreography by Myroslav Vantukh

Virsky in performance

• Carpathians
• Tambourine Dance
• The Years of Youth
• In Peace and Harmony
• Russian Suite
• Ukraino, My Ukraino (English: Ukraine, My Ukraine)
• Tsygansky, a Gypsy dance
• The Volynsk Patterns
• Kozachok

See also

• List of folk dance performance groups

References

• Official Website of Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble Named After P.Virsky
• A News Article on Virsky
• Ukrainian Weekly Article