On 30 November 2025, the All-Ukrainian Dance Fest choreography competition ‘New Legends’ was held in Poltava, in which the exemplary contemporary ballroom dance ensemble ‘SWAY’ of the Sumy National Agrarian University took part. Our dancers represented the university with dignity and won the highest award of the festival — the Grand Prix.
The ‘New Legends’ competition is one of the most notable events for young dancers and dance groups in Ukraine. This festival brings together participants of all ages, creating a platform for presenting original performances, creative experiments and competitions in technical skill. The high level of the jury and the wide geography of participants make the competition significant for the entire choreographic community.
The ‘SWAY’ group presented six bright compositions in several age categories and won four first and two
second places. A special event was the premiere of the number ‘I am with you’ in the ‘over 16’ category.
The students worked on the composition for only a month and a half, but managed to create a deeply emotional and technically complex performance. Students of the SNAU took part in the production: Viktoria Atamanenko, Viktoria Imenovska, Svetlana Svynarenko, Diana Zubatova and Anton Bakher.
The members of the team shared their impressions of the first performance on the stage of the all-Ukrainian level:
“For us, this was the first such large-scale competition — a real explosion of emotions. We have been engaged in ballroom dancing since September, and three months of intensive training with our leader Yuri Gennadiyovych became the foundation of our debut. The number “I am next to you” is special for the entire team. Before going on stage, we were incredibly nervous, but as soon as the music started, fear turned into drive. This is an unforgettable experience that inspires us to move forward.”
Sumy National Agrarian University sincerely congratulates the ‘SWAY’ team on their brilliant victory and thanks the competition organisers and everyone who supported our dancers on their path to success. We are proud of our students’ achievements and emphasise that the comprehensive development of young people is one of the university’s priorities, and the exemplary contemporary ballroom dance ensemble is just one of many opportunities for creative self-realisation and extracurricular activities at SNAU.
