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1987 was a year that brought several changes to the
club - the name changed to the Kryla Ukrainian Dancers, the dance style
from the region of Hutsulshchyna was added to the choreography, and a
new dance instructor Nathaniel Ostashewski, a former member of the
Cheremosh Dance Ensemble in Edmonton, began teaching. He is still
instructing the Kryla Ukrainian dancers today.
Kryla began a period of rapid growth that continued
until 1993, rising in numbers from 40 member to 105 members in 1993.
This rapid growth of the club presented several challenges, like
Malankas with over 550 people wanting to attend (the Agriplex has
limited seating), and year end concerts in the Lyle Victor Albert Center
that were performed twice (LVA can only seat 210 people). Over the last
several years Kryla's membership has stabalized at about 70 members
following the enrollment trend that has been occurring in most Ukrainian
Dance groups in Alberta.
Another challenge presented by the rapid growth of Kryla during 1987 -
1993 was dance instruction. Nathaniel was instructing three nights a
week after school (since he is a school teacher in the Bonnyville area)
and with the additional performances Kryla was doing at the time, it was
becoming too much for one person. The following year in order to make it
more manageable, Kryla began an instructor mentor program. Several of
the Kryla senior dancers began teaching Kryla beginner classes under
Nathaniel's guidance and have continued to use this experience to teach
in summer camps in the Bonnyville area. Chris Chornohos, Tammy
Nikolaichuk, Crystal Hebert, Terry Bowsfield, and Brandice Shostak were
the Kryla Senior dancers that participated in this program, and it is
hoped that they continue to pass on the Ukrainian dance tradition far in
to the future. In 1993 Loretta Thacker (Owchar), a former member of
Cheremosh Dance Ensemble, moved to Bonnyville and until 1996 she
assisted Nathaniel with the instruction for the dance school.
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