It’s like being outside by a bonfire at night singing these songs.
“I walked away feeling like I had gained some unspoken understanding of the Carpatho-Rusyn culture - not facts and figures, but the feeling of it, and how it’s alive in the here and now …”
“I loved the choreographic language. I have limited experience with this type of genre mixing … their performance created excitement and honored traditions.”
“It brought up deep seeded emotions and memories from my childhood … I truly can’t think of anything I didn't enjoy except maybe crying in public.”
Nothing in this work is fully traditional.
The foundation of this work extends far beyond the walls of The Southern Theater. With roots and tendrils extending from open air stages at the foot of Carpathian Mountains, through every cabbage filled church basement in Southwestern PA, across more than a few ballet barres, and a sweaty summer in Alumni Gym, to our self made studio in the Hennepin Center for the Arts. The roots of this work echo and ache with perseverance and nostalgia fortified by a mother’s curiosity and a daughter’s resilience.
Ja Rusyn byl, jesm i budu.
Dedicated to Mária Bejdová (Vičnaja Pamjat’) and Natalija Hnatko.
This work was commissioned by Arena Dances for their annual Candy Box Dance Festival (2025), and premiered at The Southern Theater.
Arranger: Dominika Novotná
Audio Engineer: Brandon Anderson Musser
Costume Design: Alexandra Bodnarchuk
Costume Construction: Jenny Hawkins-Hatch
Cultural Consultant & Direction: John Righetti, Dominika Novotná
Dancers: Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Non Edwards, Odessa Rain, Yukina Sato
Guest Dramaturgs: Connor Berkompas, Nathan Keepers
Interpreter: Michal Pavlič
Light Walker: Kaitlyn Hawkins
Seamstress: Odessa Rain
Singers from Mila Vocal Ensemble: Rada Kolarova, Leslie Lukas, Emily Park Jordan, Daniela Schmiedlechner
Sound Design: Brandon Anderson Musser
Transcription: Darlene Fejka
Lighting Designer: Mark Ruark
Run Time : 25 min // Dancers : 4 - 12
Traditional Carpatho-Rusyn songs used in this work are listed below with the region of the song noted next to the title.
Odprašaňa po Šambriňskŷ, Šambron
Po Horach Chodylam, Poloniny
Nechcu Paradnoho, Šambron
Možete Mamočko, Šambron
Tak Jem Ša Vŷdava, Šambron
A Za Našom Chŷžom, Šambron
Nepyj Koňu Vodu, Poloniny
Povava, Povava, Šambron
Ňit Koho v Šambroňi Lubiti, Šambron
Chodyly Zme v Šŷroj Pole, Poloniny
Poplačeš Ty Haňko, Poloniny
Parta Moja, Šambron
Bŷva Ja Ďivočka, Šambron