Regions and Costumes

Pryvit
"Pryvit" is a Ukrainian welcome dance. Many regions can be represented in this dance. Dancers offer bread, salt and wheat, which represent a wish of prosperity and health to their guests.

Poltava – Central and Eastern Ukraine
This is a vast area in the northeastern corner of Ukraine. The most well known sub-region is Poltavshchyna, located east of the Dnipro River. The region consists of flat lands and gently rolling hills. The large area has many lakes and small rivers, which flow, down wide valleys. In the north, the land consists of forests, and in the south there is a forest-steppe zone. This area was a very important agricultural area for a long time. Vital crops include grain, sugar beets and various vegetables.

Music, dance, costumes and culture from the sub-region “Poltavshchyna” have become world-renowned. Choreography from this area is common across all of North America and is performed by groups of all ages. “Hopak”, the fast and colourful dance characterized by highflying males and spinning females originated from this area. Dance steps from this part of Ukraine are some of the first that young dancers learn in Canada. The folkways of Poltava have become easily recognizable and the costume of this area has been deemed as the national costume of Ukraine.

Hutsul’shchyna
This region is located in the highest parts of the Carpathian Mountains. It extends down to the Romanian territory in the east and southeast. The land consists of vast mountain ranges and densely wooded areas. The terrain becomes increasingly rocky as you get higher up into the mountains.

Forestry is a major part of their industry. Hutsuly are known as skilful builders. Cattle and sheep breeding also constitute major activities, which take place on the high plains. Orchards and gardens are grown. Hutsuly are renowned for their woodcarving and inlay work, copper work, rug weaving, pottery making and jewellery preparation.

Dances from this region are commonly taught due to their lively and high-spirited nature.

Bukovyna
This region lies in the Western Ukraine on the southeastern slopes of the Carpathian Mountains and in the Bukovynian foothills. The territory of Bukovyna is now divided between Ukraine and Romania. Approximately 40% of the area is forest, 20% pasture and 50% cultivated land.

The main industry of Bukovyna is lumber. In the mountains, various industries include iron ore, lead and silver. Other minor industries include tanning and shoemaking, sugar refining, milling, brewing, rubber-work and knitting.

Culturally, Bukovyna is related somewhat to its neighbours, the Hutsuly. It also shows some influences from neighbouring Moldavia and Romania. Dances are lively, energetic and characterized by high stepping and intricate foot stamping combinations. Coins are often a part of the costume as they represent a Ukrainian superstition that coins ward off evil spirits.

Volyn
This region lies in the northwestern part of the Ukraine.

Dances are characterized with hopping and spinning steps. Costumes emphasize the swish of the girl’s skirt and lower part of the male’s jacket.

Transcarpathia
This region is also known as Zakarpattia. The land consists of rolling foothills and abundant farmland.

Dances are characterized with the males clapping and slapping their boots and bodies. The girl’s skirts will swish and the beat is moderately paced.

Gypsies
Gypsies also represent a part of Ukrainian folk culture.

In these dances you will see the males clapping and slapping their boots or chest.

Polissia
Part of this region is below sea level and therefore the soil is marshy which does not make for great agriculture. This region has a lot of cattle ranching and fishing.

This dance is characteristic of repetitive tapping and stamping. You also see high leg movements accompanied with a fast pace.