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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, КВІТЕНЬ 2010 19 NOTES 21. Atena Pashko, “Soiuz Ukrainok v zhinochomu rusi: Prohramna dopovid,” Ukrainka 2(26) 1994, p. 5. While she was never an arreste d or recognized dissident herself, Pashko’s marriage to Viacheslav Chornovil, the prominent democratic dissident, gave her a public forum few women enjoyed. 22. Ibid. p. 5. 23. Ukhvala Mizhnarodnoii konferentsii Soiuzu Ukra inok i SFUZhO, Ukrainka i Demo kratia. 24. All quotations taken from the program of the Union sent to me, along with a report on the meeting by Valentyna Smirnova. 25. Phrase used by Les Taniuk, a popular theater director and deputy to the First Supreme Rada. 26. The stress is not onl y upon nationalism, but also on the traditional role of the mother, work with schools and preschool education, and close contacts with the churches, especially with the Catholic Church. This tendency is causing some dissatisfaction within the organization. The July 1994 convention held in Ivano - Frankisvk had a strong representation of Western Ukrainian women and few women from other areas. 27. Comments by Rostyslava Fedak, a Women’s Union activist from Sambir, at a gathering of the Ukrainian National Women ’s League in America in Sommerville, N.J., October 22, 1994. 28. Within six months, the texts of the pre - sentations were published as a separate book that is being used in developing further programs and discussion. Drach et al., Zhinka v derzhavotvorenni . Scythian Stones “Greetings from Kyiv where we are working on a new show — Scythian Stones — with Nina Matvienko, her daughter Tonia, and artists from Kyrgyzstan. We hope to show a workshop production on March 26 at the Honchar Museum in Kyiv.” — Virl ana With this brief and understated email message, Virlana Tkacz shared some exciting news about her most recent theatrical enterprise, a work that follows the parallel journeys of two young women who venture beyond village life and nomadic traditions int o the city. During their respective journeys they descend into the Great Below — the modern global desert where songs, skills, and languages vanish, leaving behind only mute markers like the Scythian Stones found today throughout the grasslands of Ukraine an d Central Asia. One of the salient aspects of this new Yara production is its focus on women. As Ms. Tkacz explains, “Epics are usually male stories about growing up, but not this one. We wanted to do an epic story about a woman, and examine how quickly s o many cultures are disappearing today. The piece imagines an alternative ending, linking the past with a future in which poetry would carry the familial into the cosmos.” The emphasis on traditions and journeys is a familiar patter n in Yara productions, a lways characterized by a blend of the here and now with fragments of ancient art forms. As Tkacz observes, "Tradition is not static; it's constantly evolving. The question is how to engage people today to create a link to the future.” It is a question she hopes is addressed literally, figuratively, and symbolically in Scythian Stones. The production, staged by Virlana Tkacz and Watoku Ueno, incorporates traditional songs from Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan into the structure of an ancient Sumerian epic about the Descent of Inanna , which dates back to 2000 BCE. Those performing or otherwise involved in th e Yara’s modern - day epic are a diverse group. Scythian Stones will feature (among others) singer Nina Matvienko (the "Voice of Ukraine"), Nurbek Serkebaev ( a musi cian from Kyrgyzstan who plays assorted ancient Kyrgyz instruments ) , The Debutante Hour ( a New York girl group with musical roots in American country and blues ) , “movement ” director Katja Kolcio , (who teaches at Wesleyan), and numerous veterans of earlier Yara prod uctions. – TSC Virlana Tkacz is founder and director of Yara Arts Group, a Member at Large of the UNWLA, a member of the Our Life’s editorial board, and the recipient of the Ukraine’s Order of Princess Olha Medal, presented for her contributions to Ukrainian culture worldwide. Yara celebrated its 20th anniversary in January of this year. Performances of Scythian Stones at La MaMa Experimental Theatre will run from April 17 to M ay 2. For dates and times call (212) 4 75 - 7710.
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