Dudari

“Dudari” (The Piper Lads)

Choreography – Volodymyr Hlushenkov, Honoured Artist of Ukraine

Reconstruction – Serhii Pedan, Honored Educator of Ukraine

Arrangement - Ihor Pokhodoshchuk

Performance – "Druzhba" Folk Dance Ensemble, an Honoured Folk Art Collective of the Rivne Palace of Children and Youth Creativity, directed by Nataliia Dziubenko, Excellence in Education of Ukraine.

Duration - 3:32 min.

History of Creation: Choreographer Volodymyr Hlushenkov collected the folklore material for this and other Podillia dance productions in the village of Verbivtsi, Terebovlia District, Ternopil Region. His consultants were Hryhorii and Yevheniia Pavlyshyn, who shared the meaning, specific movements, and most importantly, the narrative foundation of the dance "Ohrodnyk" (The Gardener). Zhovniry (in Ukrainian- zhovnir—Polish servicemen) would arrive in the village singing a song

"From beneath the forest, from beneath the guelder-rose tree,

Zhovniry rode away from Ukraine,

Some in white, some in black, and some in green,

Each zhovnir riding a raven-black steed."

Upon spotting a gardener, they asked for the local tavern, eager to make merry. They invited the village girls and danced with them. In 1975, Volodymyr Hlushenkov staged this dance for the "Podillia" Folk Dance Ensemble, renaming it "Dudari" (The Piper Lads) and subtly adapting the song lyrics:

"From beneath the forest, from beneath the guelder-rose tree,

Piper lads rode to their beloved girl,

Some in white, some in black, and some in green,

Each piper riding a raven-black steed."

And the girls sang in response:

"Oh play, dear pipers, play on your pipes so sweet,

And with you, young pipers, I shall dance on my feet."

Thus, the archived folklore material found vibrant new life in the Podilian folk-stage dance "Dudari."