Taras Shevchenko (9 March 1814-10 March 1861) is recognised as Ukraine’s national poet and enjoys a status similar to that of William Shakespeare in British culture. The significance of Shevchenko is in his use of and loyalty to the Ukrainian language, which he consciously used in his artistic work in order to elevate it from a vernacular to a literary language at a time when its use was restricted by the Russian Empire. The significance of his work as a statement of national identity and...

Taras Shevchenko (9 March 1814-10 March 1861) is recognised as Ukraine’s national poet and enjoys a status similar to that of William Shakespeare in British culture. The significance of Shevchenko is in his use of and loyalty to the Ukrainian language, which he consciously used in his artistic work in order to elevate it from a vernacular to a literary language at a time when its use was restricted by the Russian Empire. The significance of his work as a statement of national identity and the use of the Ukrainian language is of great importance to the diaspora community, who felt a particular duty during the Soviet era to perform his work as widely as possible.

It is usual for UK diaspora communities to commemorate Taras Shevchenko in every March, as this was the month of both his birth and death. This particular celebration by the Halifax community is of significance as it acknowledges 175 years since Shevchenko’s birth, and was combined with their Easter celebrations.

Although written as a poem on 25th December, 1841, Testament is now more widely known as a choral piece. It was first set to music by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko in 1868, but over 60 different versions exist. Perhaps the most famous in the one performed in this video which was composed by Hordiy Hladky, a teacher from Poltava. Testament occupies a prominent space in the Ukrainian musical cannon, and enjoys a status similar to that of the Ukrainian national anthem. It is one of Shevchenko’s most widely translated works, one of the most significant translators being Vera Rich.

Krylati perform two of the most typical and widely loved Ukrainian dances – Hutzulka and Hopak. Hutzulka originates from the Hutzul area and has been developed as a concert performance which showcases the wide range of typically Hutzul / Carpathian dance steps. The primary dancers in a Hutzulka are usually girls or young women wearing traditional Carpathian dress which includes leather moccasins, short socks, a simple split skirt, a woollen jacket and a headscarf or woollen headdress. The embroideries from the Hutzul region are usually geometric in design and shades of orange, yellow, red, brown and green but many of the younger children continue to wear their usual black and red blouses and shirts. Hopak is considered to be Ukraine’s national dance and is danced to a particular tune familiar to Ukrainians everywhere. The dance is extremely fast and is danced by a number of couples partnered woman / man and is usually performed in National costume – black and red embroidered shirts and blouses, red boots, wide legged trousers called sharavary for men, a wreath headdress with coloured ribbons known as a vinok for women who also wear a waistcoat known as a zupan.