Ukrainian Social Dances: Картопля, Краковяк, Орлиця

I shot this footage in the fall of 2005. It was the opening day of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and a social dance was held in the main courtyard on campus. The musicians playing are members of two separate ensembles: The Kyiv-based Buttja and Bozhychi. Both ensembles are dedicated to the presentation of truly authentic Ukrainian folk music. About the dances: Kartoplja, I think, is from Kyiv region (Kyivshchyna). Orlytjsa is from Poltava region (Poltavshchyna). And the dance Krakovjak. . .well, it is loosely based on a court dance from the one-time capital of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, Krakow. A version of this dance is danced all throughout the former Russian Empire. Latvians also dance Krakovjak (they call it “Krakovjaks“), as do Lithuanians and Bilarusyns. There is a collection of dances that were and are danced socially all throughout the former Russian Empire. Latvians and Ukrainians also dance “Ojra,“ though the dance is thought to have originated in Lithuani