Malanka celebration goes Jan. 19

The time is approaching to celebrate Ukrainian New Year with a night of Ukrainian food, fun and festivities.

The annual Malanka celebration will take place Jan. 19 at the German Canadian Club. Proceeds go to support the Toyanda Ukrainian Dance Club, which is celebrating its 24th year.

The event will feature a complete Ukrainian familystyle dinner (perogies, cabbage rolls, sausage, etc.) along with a special dance performance by the Troyanda dancers featuring the dances and brightly coloured costumes from various regions of Ukraine.

The evening will be topped off with a dance with live music provided by the Ukrainian band Absolute. The night will include a silent auction, raffles, games and the ever popular Kolomeyka in which individual and group dancers take the centre of a circle to show off their most impressive dance moves in order to win crowd approval. The spectacle features leaps, kicks, spins, lifts and acrobatics.

The price of the ticket includes a delicious midnight lunch.

Tickets for the Malanka celebration, priced at $55, can be purchased by phoning Donna at 403-315-3492. Ticket prices are $55. Support of the event helps finance Troyanda year-round.

For more details about Malanka, or to register for classes with the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club, email Troyanda@hotmail.ca or visit the website www.troyandalethbridge.com.

The Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club is a not-for-profit organization with members who volunteer their time to preserving and promoting the artful heritage of Ukrainian dance in southern Alberta.