Vasyl Avramenko

Vasyl Kyrylovych Avramenko was a multifaceted Ukrainian artist and cultural leader. He worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer, balletmaster, director, and film producer. Avramenko is widely recognized for spreading Ukrainian folk dance across the entire world. Many historians and community members refer to him as the "Father of Ukrainian Dance." He was known for his energetic, imaginative, and sometimes exasperating personality. His life's work focused on elevating traditional village movements into a professional art form.

Avramenko's early life was marked by significant hardship and movement. Born on March 22, 1895, in Stebliv, he was orphaned at a young age. He spent his adolescence wandering as a homeless youth. Eventually, he traveled east across the vast Russian Empire to Vladivostok. There, his eldest brother taught him to read and write. This education allowed Avramenko to work at a naval base. As a crewman on Russian naval vessels, he visited several major Asian ports. These travels encouraged a lifelong love of learning and global exposure.

His professional foundation began with formal study and military service. In 1912, he saw a production of the operetta *Natalka Poltavka* in Vladivostok. This was his first experience seeing Ukrainian culture on a stage. After passing his teacher's exams in 1915, he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army. He served in several regiments, including the 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment and the 35th Siberian Infantry Regiment. During the war, he was wounded and hospitalized in Minsk and Petrograd. While in Petrograd, he joined a troupe of military actors. This experience helped him discover his natural flair for the stage.

In 1917, Avramenko attended lectures by Vasyl Verkhovynets in Kyiv. Verkhovynets taught the theory and choreography of Ukrainian folk dance. Avramenko took extensive notes to compile a vocabulary of dance steps. He later published these findings in his book, *Ukrainian National Dances, Music, and Costumes*. This work aimed to preserve the legacy of Ukrainian dance. He also worked with various theatrical troupes, including those led by Mykola Sadovsky.

Avramenko's career as a teacher grew during difficult political times. In 1921, while interned in the Kalisz camp, he established his first dance school. He taught 100 students, ranging from small children to camp guards. This was the first of more than 100 schools he would open over 20 years. He later toured western Ukraine, visiting cities like Lviv, Rivne, and Lutsk. He conducted workshops to encourage others to pass these dances on. This method of teaching ensured the traditions survived in many different towns.

In December 1925, Avramenko arrived in Canada to promote Ukrainian independence. He opened his first North American school in Toronto at St. Mary's Roman Catholic hall. His troupe performed for massive crowds, including 25,000 spectators at the Canadian National Exhibition. He later moved to Winnipeg in 1927 and expanded into the Canadian prairies. He taught in cities such as Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Edmonton. In Edmonton, he trained 20 public school teachers to teach dance to their students. His leadership helped establish lasting groups, such as the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers.

Avramenko eventually moved to New York City to reach even larger audiences. He established schools in Manhattan and the Lower East Side. In the 1930s, he used phonograph records to teach dance without live music. He attempted to bring Ukrainian culture to the grandest stages in America. He staged a massive performance at the Metropolitan Opera with 500 dancers and 100 singers. While the English-speaking press gave it a positive review, the Ukrainian press saw it as an artistic failure. This was because the audience expected a high-level operetta rather than folk traditions.

To solve his growing financial debts, Avramenko turned to the film industry. He established the Avramenko Film Company in New York City in 1936. He raised $25,000 to produce a feature film of the operetta *Natalka Poltavka*. He believed this film would bring global fame to the Ukrainian cause.

His work connected traditional folk arts with modern media like film and recording. Through these various methods, he ensured that Ukrainian dance became a recognized global art form.