Rusyny, (pronounced “ru-syn-uh”) is sponsored by the National Carpatho-Rusyn Society and is hosted by St. Melany's Byzantine Catholic Church of Tucson, AZ. There are twenty members with ages ranging from children to adult.
Artistic director, Leslie Kurtak, founded Rusyny Folk Ensemble in 2001. Leslie has been trained in professional dance schools such as Boston Ballet School, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the prestigious Julliard School of Dance.
Original choreography is by Dean Poloka and Jack Poloka, directors and choreographers of the internationally performing Slavjane Folk Ensemble of McKees Rock, Pennsylvania.
Rusyny’s songs, dances and costumes reflect the traditional culture of the Rusyn people from the Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia, Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. They predate the countries that they are occupied by – similarly experienced by the Basque and Kurds.
The group has a standing invitation to perform at Tucson Meet Yourself and the magnificent group provides an outstanding performance.
Performances range from 30 minutes to just over an hour, with singing and athletic dancing. Additionally, Rusyny sponsors various local dance and cultural training and workshops.
Rusyny Folk Ensemble has performed for the European Multi-ethnic Alliance of Tucson, Inc. (EMAT) and the Family Arts Festival events for several years now, as well as the Arizona Balalaika Annual Concert and numerous other public and private functions. |
