Veeteretz Info

VEETERETZ FESTIVAL

Bringing together dancers for a WEEKEND of cultural celebration, pride and fun!

 

Dear Participants of the 2026 Veeteretz Ukrainian Dance Festival

We would like to first, thank you for your participation and support in our 19th Anniversary Festival endeavor. We have truly been delighted by the positive and overwhelming response past 18 years and are always encouraged by your positive feedback regarding our festival.  For your convenience, the contents of our information package is listed below and also attached. 

Sincerely

Gwen Andruik-Hanke

Festival Founder and Chair

 

Day One     (Friday, May 8, 2026):        12 noon - 9:30 p.m.

Day Two      (Saturday, May 9, 2026):   8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Day Three   (Sunday, May 10, 2026):    9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

**The backstage area will be available to dancers 1 hour prior to the festival start time

Ukrayinska Mozaika (Sunday, May 10, 2026):  6:00 p.m Be available JUST INCASE :)

LOCATION:  Dow Centennial Centre, Shell Theatre

Address: 8700 84 St, Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 0P7

PARKING:  It’s FREE and Abundant

ONE day admission $9 (NO GST or added fees or surcharges)

One day admission and program - $15

 

TWO day admission $15 (NO GST or added fees or surcharges)

Two day admission and program - $20

 

THREE day admission $20  (NO GST or added fees or surcharges)

Three day admission and a program - $25

 

Children 2 and under are FREE for any of the 3 festival days.

*VUDF stamped admission wristbands must be worn by attendees to enter the theatre.

Theatre doors will remain closed during stage performances and will open between dances.

NEW THIS YEAR...

VEETERETZ DANCER WELCOME TABLE

*Dancers (child or adult) participating in the festival receive FREE admission. Please “check in” at our WELCOME table to receive a stamp which allows for entrance into the theatre when not performing.

***Instructors will receive a distinctly coloured stamped wristband to identify them as instructors

PROGRAMS 

$6.00 each when sold separately and not in combination with admission wristbands.

PAYMENT OPTIONS while at the 2026 VUDF

The following payment options are accepted: Cash, Visa, Mastercard and Debit

UKRAYINSKA MOZIAKA

Featuring Award Winning Performances by the 19th Anniversary Festival Participants

Date:  Sunday, May 10, 2026

Time:  6:00 p.m.

Cost:  $12 (NO GST or added fees or surcharges)

ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS REQUIRE A TICKET including DANCERS/PERFORMERS

*Backstage area will be available to performers 1 hour prior to showtime

MARKS, ADJUDICATION and AWARDS

Marking System: All dances will be marked according to the following:

GOLD with a mark of 90% and above

SILVER with a mark of 85% - 89%

BRONZE with a mark of 80% - 85%

MERIT with a mark of 79% or below

 Over the course of the 2026 Veeteretz Ukrainian Dance Festival 

• 1754 Medals will be distributed, 45 Adjudication Sessions will be held, 45 Outstanding Performance Acknowledgement Awards, 45 Best Choreography Awards and 45 Most Promising Awards will be distributed, 18 Scholarships for Highest Mark and 12 Adjudicator's Choice Awards
  
  

REHEARSAL/PRACTICE SPACE

• located in the Soccer pitch during the duration of the

• We are advising dancers to arrive at the Sherritt Cultural Pavilion; in costume (where possible)

SHELL THEATRE

• STAGE SIZE - 38’ across and 24’ deep (front of stage to back of stage)

• Located within the Sherritt Cultural Pavilion of the Dow Centennial Centre is the “Shell Theatre” a venue that easily seats over 500 people. 

• A section of the theatre will be sectioned off for our adjudicator but the remaining seats will be open on the main floor.  Balcony seating will be available after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th.

• Video flash cameras and/or any recording devices (including cell phones) are strictly prohibited in the theatre and need to be on SILENT. Once inside the theatre, these devices are to be KEPT OUT OF SIGHT. Anyone caught using such devices will be asked to leave the theatre immediately and this could result in disqualification of the photographed or videotaped entry.

It is therefore the responsibility of each participating school to inform all parents, instructors and audience members related to the school of the guidelines to ensure that their school entries are not disqualified.

• APPLAUSE is encouraged after each dance to show your support for all festival performers.

• Any beverage with a screw top lid is allowed into the theatre, no disposable cups like Starbucks, Tim Horton’s or Booster Juice cups. 

• Food is NOT allowed into the theatre.

• Cellular phones, digital watch alarms MUST be turned off in the theatre.

DRESSING ROOMS

WE ENCOURAGE ALL DANCERS TO COME TO THE THEATER IN COSTUME READY TO

PERFORM to avoid dressing room congestion.

The backstage area will be open 1 hour prior to the start of the festival.

In respecting the privacy and comfort of participating dancers, currently dressing rooms will be

assigned as following:

? *2 large dressing rooms behind the stage and 2 rooms in the Soccer Pitch will be

designated for our Female participants to use (this may be reduced during solo/duet

performances)

? *2 Male dressing rooms will be designated in the soccer pitch area

? *1 dressing room will be designated as a Family dressing room (Father changing

daughters and/or Mother changing sons). Please request use in ADVANCE (will be assigned on a first come, first asked basis)

ALL dressing rooms with be clearly marked with either FEMALE, MALE or FAMILY signage

PLEASE BE ADVISED, DRESSING ROOMS ARE NOT RESERVED FOR CERTAIN DANCE

GROUPS. Should you be told this, please advise a festival volunteer.

VIDEO ADJUDICATION

The VUDF will once again be using video adjudication.  Following the end of the festival, you will receive links to your adjudication given by our 2026 Adjudicator, Serhij Koroliuk.

PHOTO RELEASE CONSENT

Through their registration and participation  in the 2026 VUDF (each name(s) listed on each entry form), INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS automatically CONSENT to having their photo taken during the festival and understand that and give permission for his/her photos to be used for future Festival PR including advertising, programs and/or websites.

**Photos will be taken during the festival by a photographer exclusively hired by the Veeteretz

Ukrainian Dance Festival (VUDF). This year our photographer is ARTISTIC CREATIONS

PHOTOGRAPHY. In accordance with and compliance to the Alberta’s Personal Information

Protection Act (PIPA), the VUDF is informing all dancers, parents, and guardians of their intent

to take pictures during the festival on stage of the Dow Centennial Center. Photos taken will be

used solely for the purpose of future Festival PR and will not include ANY publication of

name(s). It is the responsibility of each dancing group/club/organization to inform all their

dancers participating in the 2026 festival of this photo intent. Should a parent/guardian choose

not to have their child(ren) photo(s) taken, it is their responsibility to inform the Festival Chair in

writing by email (info@veeteretzfestival.com) prior to April 9, 2026.

LOCAL EATERIES

Many dining options are located immediately around the Dow Centre (9372 Southfort Dr) in Fort Saskatchewan, offering quick access to pizza, pub food, and casual dining.

Within a short drive are the following:

Tim Hortons, Wendy’s, Burger King, Boston Pizza, Subway, Montana’s, Original Joe’s, etc.

 

Ufest Info

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:10PM (Arrive dressed and ready to dance no later than 4:10PM)

Spring Updates:

Year End Ticket Sales are open at http://www.stbasilsdance.ca/store

When: Saturday, May 2 at St. Basil’s Cultural Centre

Time: 4:00PM

Dancers arrive at 3:00PM

Special Meeting for the Membership to vote our bylaw update: 3:15PM (More info below)

Tickets: 

Ages 13+ $35.00 (dinner and our show)

Ages 6-12 $20 (dinner and our show)

Ages 0-5 Free (but for numbers, you’ll need to include them in the NOTES box on your adult ticket purchase)

Ticket sales will close on Monday, April 27 at 11:00PM. Dinner tickets are not available at the door. 

Tables will be assigned, use the NOTES section if there’s another family you’d like to sit with.

Ages 6+ $15 Show Only Option (no dinner included)

Show Only tickets will be available online and at the door, cash only.

- There will be a cash bar and a traditional Ukrainian buffet dinner. 

- Please know we are covering the cost for each performer ticket (adults included). Include how many dancers you're bringing and their ages by answering the questions when you purchase your own tickets.

- Rachel will be in touch with the volunteers who signed up for year end or haven’t had a chance to help out yet. 

We request your attendance at a Special Meeting of the Ukrainian Language Arts Society (St. Basil's School of Ukrainian Dance) 

When: May 2, 2026  

Time: 3:15pm to 3:25pm (when you drop off your child upstairs, join us downstairs in the ballroom)

 Where: In the main ballroom of St. Basil's Cultural Centre

 Why: A special resolution will be presented to update the bylaws of the society to revise the condition of the elected executive membership requirement to also be members of St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Parish

 Who: All Active Members including registered dancers over the age of 18 and if under age 18, the parent or guardian who registered the dancer. 

 Questions: please submit questions regarding the proposed bylaws in writing to president@stbasilsdance.ca no later than April 25, 2026. For meeting efficiency, questions may be consolidated and answers will be provided before or at the meeting to the whole membership.

March 21st Performance at Northgate Baptist Church

They loved us, they really loved us.

Happy January! 

1. WINTER SEMESTER 2 Registration is now open! Register between December 1-January 30. Classes start on Tues or Wed Jan 19/20

--Please spread the word about our new class for newly or nearly 4 and 5 year olds on Tuesdays from 5:00-5:30PM  

2. Winter Concert January 18, Kupalo arrive at 1:30PM, everyone else arrive at 2:00PM dressed and ready to rehearse. The doors will open at 2:45PM and the show will begin promptly at 3:00PM.

3. In lieu of tickets, there will be an option to make a small donation online (to our store). This specifically recoups food and beverage costs, and keeps the concert free for our dancers (we don't enjoy raising tuition.) Thanks for your understanding and support of our not-for-profit volunteer run organization :)

4. Save the date: February 19, 6PM Wholesome Seniors Home for Rosa, Kalyna, Vesna, Jr. Kupalo, Zirka

5. We're proceeding with all of the performances and festivals. 

Thank you to everyone who attended our AGM. We appreciate and thank all of the friends who've signed up for new board roles and to those who are continuing on in their roles, and to those who've left their roles - we appreciate you :). Team works makes the dream work. 

New info on rehearsal attire included

If ever you need to change your credit card info (due to compromised activity or expiry), log into Ramp (go to the website and use the Register Now button

--Use the left menu to find “Transactions"

 --The bottom option under Transactions says “Update Pending/Failed Payments"

  --Follow the onscreen instructions to change your payment info. Thank you for keeping an eye on your cards and this page. 

Ongoing Fundraising  

Skip The Depot

Go ahead and sign up for Skip the Depot to come take your empties away. Donate the cost of your bottles to us. Create an account, and then donate your refund to our charitable cause - this helps keep our tuition as low as it is. Thanks so much! 

Please continue collecting refundable containers. Download this free app we’ve signed up with and you can Skip the Depot. 

 Skip The Depot ULAS Bottle Drive

Our website can advertise for you. Make a one time donation of your choosing to ULAS and we’ll host your logo and website link on our site.

Email our website coordinator. See the St. Basil’s Cultural Centre ad and Capital Power ad for examples.