Gerdan Theatre from Ukraine Tours Canada
Gerdan Theatre is a group from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, who toured Canada in February and March of 2024. They performed at more than 18 shows (!!!) during their time in Canada, and we had the chance to chat with two of their members, Yulia and Anton, when they were in Winnipeg. The adult group is who toured Canada, but kids are a part of Gerdan too, singing and acting out and dancing Ukrainian songs and traditions.
The word gerdan refers to a type of beaded necklace common in the Bukovyna region of Ukraine, near the Carpathian Mountains. (Gerdan Theatre’s hometown Chernivtsi is in Bukovyna.) Gerdany feature various symbols — geometric shapes, flowers — much like how embroidery has different designs. And like embroidery, wearing a gerdan offers protection from evil.
We have more love for Gerdan Theatre than the number of beads it takes to make a gerdan. If you ever have the chance to see them perform, definitely do your best to go! Even if you don’t understand the Ukrainian language, you’ll feel the meaning of the songs thanks to Gerdan’s powerful performance.
Gerdan Theatre performed in Winnipeg on March 2, 2024. Photo by Norbert K. Iwan.
Q + A
Yulia, an event host and blogger, has been a part of Gerdan since she was about nine years old. She took some time away when she had her two children (who are now in the youth group of Gerdan!), but she’s happy to be back with the group. Anton, a vascular surgeon, joined Gerdan in 2002.
The group practices once a week, though that increases to two or three times a week leading up to a show. While being in Gerdan is a hobby — this isn’t their full-time job, and most of them don’t have formal musical training — they take it pretty seriously, evident in their captivating performances.
This is a paraphrased version of our conversation with Yulia and Anton. Listen to the whole episode for the full conversation, which also features a snippet from their show!
Why did you join Gerdan?
Yulia: While some people join as kids, others join when they’re older. I think that if you like to sing, if you really love it, you’re looking for some occupation where you can do that.
Thank you, Yulia and Anton, for chatting with us!
Anton: At your daytime job, you can get so tired. But going to Gerdan rehearsals is like your recovery time.
You don’t just sing songs — you really perform them, sometimes doing traditional folk dances and acting out skits. Where did you learn these traditions you celebrate through Gerdan?
Yulia: Years ago, there were a couple people who went on expeditions throughout the country to learn about Ukrainian culture who then shared these traditions with Gerdan.
You’re now passing along this culture you’ve learned to even more people through your shows. How does that make you feel to be able to share about these beautiful Ukrainian traditions?
Yulia: Nowadays, it feels different. When you have war in Ukraine, a lot people want to know much more Ukraine and traditions. We’re really happy because all this work we’ve been doing for many years, it’s really important for everyone, and people feel it. I’m really happy that we can share it with other people.
What has it been like performing in Canada?
Anton: It’s really interesting for us because we didn't expect such a warm reception. We thought we were unknown artists here.
Yulia: Even in Ukraine, not everybody knows about us, because we’re from a smaller city in Ukraine, Chernivtsi. We really appreciate the response here. People are so excited. People are crying. They just come to us after our concert and say, “We are so thankful for you.” And we also cry because of the emotions. We are really happy.
What is the money raised during this tour going toward?
Anton: Five of our colleagues are taking part in battles against Russian aggression. They are ordinary people — some of them are medics, some of them are teachers, and they have small children. They are not professional soldiers. Our main goal is to support them by collecting money for them, for example, to repair vehicles, which are very useful during wartime.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with Canadians about Gerdan, Ukraine, or this tour?
Anton: We are a very welcoming nation. We are not a war-like nation. The aggression is not from us.
Yulia: We want all the world to know how beautiful, how special our culture is. I also want to say that it's so interesting to see our work from your eyes. We are just doing what our hearts need, and it seems like people do really like it.
Thank you so much, Anton and Yulia, for talking with us for this episode, and thank you to all of Gerdan Theatre for sharing your love and knowledge of Ukrainian culture with us.
Listen to the full episode here. And check out Gerdan Theatre on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Schaslyvo!