Ukrainian folk dances, heartfelt applause from the audience, and an atmosphere of cultural unity—this is how the “Vesna” Folk Dance Ensemble of Sumy National Agrarian University represented Ukraine at the 27th Warmia i Mazury International Folklore Festival, held July 13–20 in Olsztyn, Poland.
This year, the festival brought together artistic groups from Ukraine, Poland, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Slovakia, and Serbia, serving as a platform for cultural dialogue, creative exchange, and the promotion of folk art.
Throughout the festival week, the “Vesna” ensemble took part in the competition program, a festive parade through the streets of historic Olsztyn, a gala concert, and performances in the cities of Biskupiec and Ostróda. The ensemble presented a program of Ukrainian folk dances, which included the pieces “Oi, Hai, Hai Zelenenkyi,” “Ukrainian Wreath,” “Polissia Polka,” “From the Fair,” “Hulianochka,” “Festive Hopak,” and the finale, “Ukraine.” The performance took on special symbolic significance through its joint presentation with a group led by Yelyzaveta Tatarchenko, who is currently promoting Ukrainian choreographic art in Poland.
Sumy National Agrarian University was represented at the festival by students, a university alumna, ensemble director Olha Hetmanenko, and clinical psychologist Olha Semeniuk
This trip held special significance for the ensemble. It was the Warmia and Mazury Festival, more than twenty years ago, that served as the first international creative platform for “Vesna.” Since then, the collaboration with the festival has continued, and each new encounter opens up new opportunities for creative development and cultural exchange.
According to the ensemble’s director, Olga Hetmanenko, the most emotional moment of the festival was the performance of the piece “Ukraine” set to a song by Taras Petrynenko. This performance moved not only the audience but also the artists themselves. The ensemble’s director also noted the festival’s high level of organization, the warm welcome, and the long-standing collaboration with its organizers.
Viktoria Rostoka, a member of the ensemble and a student at SNAU, admits that the festival gave her not only vivid creative experiences but also a sense of true unity:
“For me, this trip meant so much more than just participating in the festival. It was an opportunity to feel just how close Ukrainian culture is to people in different countries. I was particularly moved by the audience’s applause and the shouts of ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ after our performances. It’s in moments like these that you realize dance can be a language that unites people and tells the world about Ukraine without words,” says Viktoria.
The “Vesna” ensemble’s participation in the Warmia and Mazury Festival served as yet another confirmation that students at Sumy National Agrarian University are active participants in the international cultural scene. Through folk dance, they not only preserve Ukrainian traditions but also introduce them to the world, strengthening cultural ties and fostering a positive image of Ukraine far beyond its borders.
