Creativity of O. Gerdan-Zaklynska within the development of Ukrainian and world choreographic culture

Abstract

The article investigates creative activity of one of the V. Avramenko’s well-known students, Galician choreographer O. Gerdan-Zaklynska in homeland and in emigration. It analyzes her contribution to the development of "expressive" dance in the first half of the 20th century within the specificity of Ukrainian choreographic art. The performing and pedagogical activity of the choreographer is considered in the context of the preservation and development of the national historical and cultural heritage. It is stated that the direction of creative and pedagogical activity of O. Gerdan-Zaklynska in emigration speaks of the desire not only to preserve individual spiritual values and achievements of Ukrainian dance culture, but also to popularize them and concurrently contribute to the synthesis of Ukrainian and foreign choreography. Synthesizing the best traditions of national art with the innovative experience of Western European choreography, O. Gerdan-Zaklynska presented a unique Galician style of performing modern dance at the global level. While searching for the originality and authenticity of Ukrainian folk-stage dance, she invented the so-called motor symbols that contributed to the formation of a new coding of dance.