UKR AINIAN HIS TORY
UKRAINIAN BEAUTY
Rules
VINCENT REES
Roksolana is a legend. Just an ordinary girl from Kyivan Rus, she would rise to become the wife of Süleyman the Magnificent and ultimately one of the most powerful women on the planet at the time Ottoman Sultan Süleyman was so in love he wrote Roksolana this poem
Roksolana, later known as Hurrem Sultan, was born (c1500-1558) in the town of Rohatyn, just south of Lviv, in what was then known as the territory of Ruthenia of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This territory was at the edge of civilisation, with Crimean Tatars often raiding the north, including Ukrainian territory, kidnapping anyone they could, and turning them into slaves to be sold into the ports of Kaffa. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, approximately 3 million people were turned into slaves, which is where our story begins! THE CHEERFUL ONE
One large raid, deep into Ukrainian territory, captured a girl named Roksolana, just 15-years old at the time. Sold into slavery in Istanbul, she would eventually make her way into the sultan’s harem. Under the supervision of the top female attendant in charge of the harem, the female candidates were trained in sewing, embroidery (some of which has survived to this day), dance, song, various musical instruments, puppetry, reciting fairytales, and other cultural activities. They also learned the basics of Islam, literature, and philosophy. And, of course, they were also given lessons in the art of erotic love. Roksolana was given the name Hurrem, which translates as “the cheerful one”, due to her lively and playful spirit. With her influence over the sultan becoming well known, she soon became rival to the sultan’s other consorts. Somewhere around 1533-34, Ottoman Sultan Süleyman married Roksolana in a grand ceremony, making him the first Ottoman sultan to marry in 200 years. She also bore him more than one son, which 8
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“Throne of my lonely niche, my wealth, my love, my moonlight. My most sincere friend, my confidant, my very existence, my Sultan, my one and only love. The most beautiful among the beautiful... My springtime, my merry-faced love, my daytime, my sweetheart, laughing leaf... My plants, my sweet, my rose, the one and only who does not distress me in this world... My Istanbul, my Caraman, the earth of my Anatolia My Badakhshan, my Baghdad, and Khorasan My woman of the beautiful hair, my love of the slanted brow, my love of eyes full of mischief... I’ll sing your praises always I, lover of the tormented heart, Muhibbi of the eyes full of tears, I am happy.” broke with standard custom, and later became the first woman to remain in the sultan’s court for the duration of her life. A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE
Roksolana became influential in state affairs, and thanks to her clever wits, she acted as Süleyman’s chief adviser, with many believing it was she who influenced foreign policy and international politics. Roksolana’s influence on Süleyman was known to be so powerful, rumors began circulating the Ottoman court that the sultan had been… bewitched! Austrian Ambassador Busbek wrote that he was informed about women in the capital who supplied Roksolana with bones from the skulls of hyenas, which were believed to be a very strong aphrodisiac. Roksolana’s relationship with Süleyman made her one of the most powerful women not only in Ottoman history but the world at
that time. But this did not keep her free from intrigue. Always a controversial figure, she was subject to allegations of plotting against and manipulating her political rivals. She may or may not have influenced the sultan to “remove” rivals so that their son would ascend the throne. Unfortunately, their son Selim, did not inherit much from his father or his mother. Rather, he was notorious for his excessive drinking and cruelty, which was extreme even by contemporary standards. He would later be called by historians Selim II the Drunk. A STRONG INFLUENCE
In addition to her attention into political matters, Roksolana directed the building of several major works of public buildings from Mecca to Jerusalem. Among her first foundations included a mosque, two Koranic schools, a fountain, and a women’s hospital near the slave market in Istanbul. She also commissioned a bath to serve the community of worshippers in an area not far from Hagia Sophia. In Jerusalem, she established a public soup kitchen to feed the poor and the needy, which is said to have fed at least 500 people twice a day. Venetian Ambassador Navagero wrote about Roksolana in 1533 saying, “There has never been a woman in the Ottoman palace who had more power than she.” The beauty of Ukrainian women must have been so magnetic (or maybe the memory of Roksolana’s powerful personality exercised such a strong influence on later Ottoman rulers), that in the 17th century two more sultans, Süleyman II and Ibrahim I, also married Ukrainian women.
COS TUME COMMENTARY
L A N A N I CO L E N I L A N D
KYIV BEAUTY Attire in the Kyiv region is one of the most oft-depicted when it comes to Ukrainian folk dress – the embroidered shirt, the apron, the korali. But how did it all come about, and why?
Ukrainian dress has many forms, but the central, and more often Kyiv region of the country is the one most people relate to. VA RIOUS PIECE S
The shirt was the basic element of clothing worn by peasants and functioned as lingerie, so one never walked in a shirt alone. Women wore mainly long shirts, over which a skirt was fastened. Then came the apron, and finally a belt to tie it all together. A kersetka served as a corset in the Kyiv region. Married women necessarily covered their heads with a scarf. There was an 10
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ancient term used for women who went out in public with an uncovered head – “illuminating the hair” (засвітити волоссям). This was considered a grave sin and could result in crop failure, illness, and cowardice. A married woman was to wear a cap that ties at the back of the head (очіпок), which was then covered with a scarf (хустка). Young girls, however, could allow their hair to show, and braided it in various ways. In terms of jewellery and ornamentation, peasants wore coral, often called the “good necklace” (добре намисто), amber, and crosses.
TR A DITION A L ORN A ME NTATION
Traditional Ukrainian embroidery features close on 300 different stitches and 20 different techniques. Ornamentation and techniques in the 19th century were so unique, someone could determine the village you came from just by the shirt you wore. The most widespread embroidery techniques in the Kyiv region included cut work (вирізування), welting (лиштва), surface stitch (поверхниця), saddle stitch (штапівка), braid stitch (коса гладь), among many others. A woman’s shirt included embroidery on the sleeves,
UKR AINIAN C ALENDAR 24-25
March OLEKSII KOVAL – VINTAGE MEETS MODERNIT Y ART EXHIBIT Until 31 March St Vladimir Institute (Toronto, ON) https://goo.gl/FdPpiw
7 DIY PYSANK Y 7 March Square Brew Co (Goderich, ON) https://goo.gl/d7zPyR
April 6-7 BARVINOK UKR AINIAN DANCE FESTIVAL 6-7 April Rawlinson Centre for the Arts (Prince Albert, SK) www.pabarveenok.com
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13-15
SHEVCHENKO CONCERT 11 March Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (Saskatoon, SK) https://goo.gl/cVS5aa
ATHABASCA L ANDING UKR AINIAN DANCE FESTIVAL 13-15 April Nancy Appleby Theatre (Athabasca, AB) AthabascaUkrianianDance
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DANCING ON THE BORDER FESTIVAL 13-15 April Vic Juba Community Theatre (Lloydminster, AB) www.malankadancers.com
TAVRIA DANCE FESTIVAL 16-18 March Regina Performing Arts Centre (Regina, SK) www.tavria.org
21-24 UKR AINIAN PYSANK A WORKSHOP 21-24 March Blue Rooster Café (Pilot Brute, SK) https://goo.gl/VypFC2 UKRAINIAN EASTER EGG WORKSHOP 24 March The Hidden Gem (Long Sault, ON) https://goo.gl/xc9UeF
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VITAEMO FESTIVAL 24-25 March Grande Prairie Regional Theatre (Grande Prairie, AB) www.troyandagp.com
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CELEBRATION DAY OF UKRAINIAN BUSINESS IN CANADA 15 April Payal Convention Centre (Mississauga, ON) https://goo.gl/Jiiepv
19-22 PAVLYCHENKO SHOWCASE 19-22 April Prairieland Park (Saskatoon, SK) www.pfedance.com VERMILLION UKRAINIAN DANCE FESTIVAL 20 April Lakeland College (Vermillion, AB) www.vermillionukrainiandance.com TROYANDA YEAR END DANCE CONCERT 22 April Grande Prairie Regional Theatre (Grande Prairie, AB) www.troyandagp.com
26-29 SVOBODA UKRAINIAN DANCE FESTIVAL 26-29 April Dekker Centre for the Arts (N. Battleford, SK) svobodafestival@hotmail.com TASTE OF UKRAINE 28 April UCC (Calgary, AB) UCPBACalgary VESELK A UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 28 April Foam Lake Community Hall (Foam Lake, SK) https://goo.gl/dHcj6L ANT Y TILA LIVE CONCERT (UA) 29 April Mod Club Theatre (Toronto, ON) KAZKA Entertainment
August 3-6 CANADA’S NATIONAL UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 3-6 August Selo Ukraina (Dauphin, MB) www.cnuf.ca
July 6-8 PYSANK A FESTIVAL 6-8 July Vegreville Exhibition Grounds (Vegreville, AB) www.pysankafestival.com
4-6 LEMKO VATRA 4-6 August Lemkivschyna Resort (Durham, ON) www.lemko-olk.com HERITAGE FEST 4-6 August William Hawreluk Park (Edmonton, AB) www.heritagefest.ca
19 UKRAINIAN DAY 19 August Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (Edmonton, AB) www.history.alberta.ca
25-26 UKRAINIAN DAY IN THE PARK 25 August Kiwanis Memorial Park (Saskatoon, SK) www.ukrainiandayinthepark.ca BABAS & BORSHCH UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 25-26 August Various venues (Lamont, AB) www.babasandborshch.ca
September 7-9
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5-18
GARDENTON UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 14 July Gardenton Ukrainian Museum Grounds (Gardenton, MB) www.travelmanitoba.com
FOLKLORAMA 5-18 August Various pavilions (Winnipeg, MB) www.folklorama.ca FOLKFEST
16-18 August
20-22 CAPITAL UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 20-22 July St John Baptise Ukrainian Shrine (Ottawa, ON) CapUkrFestival SURREY FUSION FESTIVAL 21-22 July Holland Park (Surrey, BC) www.surreyfusionfestival.ca/ukraine
Prairieland Park (Saskatoon, SK)
MONTREAL UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 7-9 September Parc de l’Ukraine (Montreal, QB) www.ukefestmontreal.org HARVEST OF THE PAST 9 September Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (Edmonton, AB) www.history.alberta.ca
www.saskatoonfolkfest.com
UKRAINIAN CANADIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY 18 August Etobicoke Central Park (Toronto, ON www.ucctoronto.ca/events/ ukrainian-independence-day
14-16 TORONTO UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 14-16 September Bloor St (Toronto, ON) ukrainianfestival.com
29 OAKVILLE UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL 29 September St Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (Oakville, ON) www.sjucc.ca 14
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Ukrainian Summer Dance
Workshops 2018 UKRAINIAN DANCE WORKSHOP TOUR 5-18 June Ukraine www.ukrainiandanceworld.com
RUSALK A UKRAINIAN DANCE CAMP 15-22 July Ukrainian Park Camp (Winnipeg, MB) www.rusalka.mb.ca
ROMA PRYMA BOHACHEVSK Y UKRAINIAN DANCE CAMP 1-15 July, 22 July – 4 August, 5-18 August Soyuzivka Heritage Centre (Kerhonkson, NY, USA) www.soyuzivka.com
VIRSK Y SUMMER ACADEMY 14-25 August Ukraine www.ukrainiandanceworld.com
SASKTANETS DANCE CAMP (for dancers) 15-19 July (for instructors) 20-22 July Rosthen Junior College (Rosthern, SK) ukrdance@ucc.sk.ca
SHUMK A DAY CAMPS 16-20 July, 13-17 August Shumka Overnight Camps 8-14 July, 5-11 August, 5-14 August Camp Oselia (Lake Wabamun, AB) www.shumka.com
WHY WORKSHOP? Ukrainian dance workshops are designed to be an intense interaction between you and your instructor. You are given tools, new insight, and harder or more intricate classwork intended to push you past what you think are your limits. These workshops are intended for you to take in as much information as possible in the little time you have with your instructor. If you have the opportunity, desire, and resources, give you and your dance career a step up. We’ve compiled a short list of options across Canada, the US, even Ukraine. You will never regret the experience.
UDIC UKRAINIAN DANCE INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCE 24-26 August Venue TBA www.ud-ic.com
Want to get more bang for your buck? Register for the year-long training opportunity in Ukraine. Find out more at www.ukrainiandanceworld.com UDW The Magazine!
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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CANADA’S POLKA KING “Dad’s drummer sometimes couldn’t make it, so he took me along at 7-years old. I played with him until he passed away in ‘66. I was 11.” At some point, Cahute picked up an accordion that had “just been laying around the house”, and he never looked back. ALONG CAME BURYA
All you need to do is turn on a tune by Burya and the whole room turns into a polka party. Such is the influence of Ron Cahute Toronto-native Ron Cahute has been playing music for five decades. Born into a musical family, he comes by it honestly. But it was his Ukrainian roots that would shape his musical footprint. DRUMS BUT NO DINING SET
The story starts in 1892, with the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants to Canada. Cahute’s paternal mother’s family, then Kohut, homesteaded in Stuartburn, Manitoba, his grandfather finding work as a schoolteacher. With so many Kohuts making the same trip, an immigration lawyer suggested the family change the spelling of their family name to Cahute, “’Make it more French,’ he said.” Later, his father met his mother while playing a gig in Toronto, and though family life was quick to follow, music was not put on the back burner. “Every Sunday we would go to church – our parish priest played the violin, and after mass he’d come over and we’d spend all day Sunday playing. Until my father died, my mother never had a dining room set. There was however a set of drums, a piano, guitar, sax, violin, and we’d play all day.” It was the drums Cahute was drawn to first. And when his father was short a drummer for a gig one night, it was Ron he turned to. 18
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Cahute’s band formed in 1976 with their first album, Burya I, out before the end of the decade. Twenty-seven more compilations have been released since, not including the countless appearances Cahute has made on other albums. “I’ve been a full-time musician since 1979. It’s something you can’t describe. It’s in your soul.” Cahute along with Burya have made it across Canada and the US at least five times, they have played in Europe, South America, Australia, even South Korea. The reception they get is always “great” he says. Interestingly, he’s never been to Ukraine. “We were booked once to play a soccer stadium of 40 000, which sold out. But I watched the ruble fall from $1.60 to $0.16 over night. The organiser lost his money and that was the end of that,” he recounts. Burya paved the way for younger groups on the scene, which means the band don’t play as much as they used to. But that doesn’t mean Cahute is laying low. One of the more recent events he was asked to MC was for
the UCC 25th Triennial Congress in Regina, Saskatchewan in 2016. “A few girls from Saskatoon walked by after the show. They say they want to show me something, but hope I’m not offended. It was a Tshirt they had made up that said, ‘If she doesn’t know who Ron Cahute is, she’s too young for you’. I thought that was great!” HOW TO MAKE BORSHT
Despite the fact that it’s “tougher now than ever to make a living” as a musician, the Cahute legend lives on in the many many pieces of music he’s produced. “I think I’m most proud of the Barabolya series,” he says, jumping into how the idea came about. “After speaking with a new immigrant from Ukraine learning English, it made sense to me to come up with an азбука (alphabet). In Ukrainian school, where I took my daughter, we had everyone reciting the alphabet in twenty minutes. Then we took it to my daughter’s school – we had all the kids (non Ukrainians) reciting the alphabet and counting to 10 in half an hour.” He and fellow musician Ihor Baczynskyj went fast to work on putting an album out based on the experience. “It wasn’t revolutionary to me – Sesame Street had been doing it for years. I don’t understand why it was such a phenomenon in the Ukrainian community but it was.” Tsyboolya and Buryak and Carrots Too came out shortly thereafter. Combine all those together and you’ve got Borscht, which was the fourth in a series of children’s educational albums. I wonder aloud what comes next for him: “Maybe a best hits album,” he says. “With the same number of musicians as we had in the 70s and 80s. You don’t retire from this,” Cahute says nostalgically. And that can only mean good things for Ukrainian communities who continue to enjoy the sounds of their ancestors.
If you do not respect the Hopak — the Hopak will not respect you! John Pichlyk