Veselka Ukrainian Dance Association was founded in 1971. Veselka’s practices and first ever performance were held at St. Nicolas Ukrainian Catholic Church on Cook Street. Mrs. Kateryna Makuch, wife of Father John Makuch, then parish priest of St. Nicolas, suggested the name “Veselka” (which means Rainbow). In those early days, dancers came from Ukrainian-Canadian families with last names like Deyholos, Kopan, Kruk, Macewko, Makuch, Martyniw, and Osowetski. Today, these Ukrainian roots have spread to include other ethnic heritage, such as Polish, English, German, Italian and even Cambodian, Chinese and East Indian. Families today also continue to include recent immigrant families from Ukraine. Veselka prides itself including families from all backgrounds, whether you are Ukrainian or not, you are welcomed.
Veselka families came together to purchase the Ukrainian Cultural Center to give Veselka a permanent home for the development of the studio and for preservation of Ukrainian costumes and culture. Today, Veselka offers a variety of classes and program to serve the Greater Victoria area including, Ukrainian levels for children and adults, yoga, Ballet, jazz, Veselkacise and an Ensemble, ‘Skunkworks’ for pre-professional dancers. As we celebrate 50 years of Ukrainian dance, our regular performances include school tours, festivals locally, provincially, nationally and internationally and events for the community. In recent years, Veselka has curated 3 productions: Man and the Crow, Baba Yaga, and the most recent Lesia and the Giant Cherry which occurs in June of 2022.
Veselka is proud member of a vibrant Ukrainian community in Victoria and works closely with the Ukrainian Cultural Center, the Ukrainian Studies Society, and the Kalyna Choir to maintain the culture as well promote new ways of collaboration across the arts.