Rusyn Dance in Munhall, PA

Here is an invitation written by Maryann from Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural Center for their fall dance. You can also find them on Facebook. Rusyns are an ethnic group spanning from the eastern part of Slovakia to Ukraine. Many of the traditions that Slovak Americans associate with Slovakia actually come from the Rusyns.

—
Posted By Maryann to Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural Center at 7/10/2010 10:11:00 PM

Event: Rusyn Zabava (Dance)
When: Friday, July 16, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Carpatho-Rusyn Society, 915 Dickson Street, Munhall, PA
Phone: 412-567-3077

After a successful summer sing-along program with Jerry Jumba, we thought you would enjoy learning Rusyn dances to the tunes of his wonderful accordion and Bob Bartko’s guitar.

On Jul 16th the C-RS National, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Chapter, will be hosting a summer dance at the Cultural Center in Munhall. Admission to this, our first zabava, will be $5.00 per person. With your suppport, we hope that this will be the first of many. We will be delighted to see you there.

We are pleased to announce that the mayor of Presov,Slovakia, and his wife will also be attending this dance. Presov is Pittsburgh’s sister city. John Righetti and I first met Mayor Hagyari at a Rusyn masquerade ball in February of 2009. That evening he mentioned a possible trip to Pittsburgh. Naturally we invited him to come and tour our center. We are very pleased that he did remember and are looking forward to his visit.

For those eager to learn authentic Rusyn dance step, Dean Poloka will offer demonstrations. You will also have the opportunity to practice the steps before going on the floor.

Dean started his career with Slavjane in 1976 and was a member of the dance troupe for 13 years. He won a Duquesne University Tamburitzans scholarship in 1989. He has
instructed and performed for several Junior Tamburitzan groups and the Pittsburgh
International Folk Theater (PIFT). With grants from the Carpatho-Rusyn Society and Slavjane, Dean has studied traditional Carpatho-Rusyn dance styling and choreography with the well known ensembles Šarišan, PUĽS, Dúbrava, and Folklórny Subor Šariš. He is presently director and choreographer of Slavjane.

So please come and dance with us on July 16th. This could be a great opportunity to show Dean’s Slavjane youngsters that real fun begins after high school.