JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on or have recently completed. Why exactly do they matter to you and why should they matter to us?
PAULA BOCHNAK: Being part of a Ukrainian song and dance ensemble, I have the opportunity to perform for a variety of cultural events, charity fundraisers, festivals, weddings and celebrations throughout the year. Recently, we’ve been invited to perform in Florida, U.S. on the Disney World stage this upcoming August. I am both thrilled and humbled at the chance to showcase Ukrainian dance and culture on a world-renowned stage. I have always been very proud of my heritage and am passionate about sharing the beauty of my culture through the arts of dance, music, singing, and theatre. I think it’s important to stay connected with our cultural identities, to have a better understanding of our history, and to preserve these traditions for future generations.
JS: How did doing these projects change you as a person and as a creator?
PB: I started learning the art of Ukrainian music and dance from a very young age of four, and each year I’m finding I continue to learn and grow both artistically and as an individual living in multicultural Canada. What intrigues me is how cultural song and dance has the ability to connect so many people of all ages all around the world. It carries such deep meaning of history- stories of how our ancestors lived, and expression of their innermost desires. Through it we see a glimpse of the past, and for a moment we are living it in the present. I truly believe actively participating in Ukrainian arts has greatly influenced the shaping of who I am today.
JS: What might others not understand or appreciate about the work you produce or do?
PB: I often get asked about the type of dancing and singing I do, and people are often amazed when I tell them it’s Ukrainian folk! But then I also get questions like, “So what exactly is Ukrainian dancing?”. And my answer to that is it’s a unique form of traditional dance that is unlike any other- you have to experience it for yourself and feel the dancers’ energy and the lively music. Like many other kinds of performing arts, the final product the audience sees on stage is a result of teamwork, dedicated practices and repetition. There’s quite a large population of Ukrainians in the Hamilton/Toronto area and the various cultural groups do a great job of putting on events throughout the city. With my involvement in the arts, I hope to bring more awareness and appreciation to Ukrainian folk song and dance.
JS: What are the most important parts of yourself that you put into your work?
PB: I’d like to say I put my whole self into the work. I’ve always thought that expressing one’s passion through the heart and soul makes a world of a difference in the ability for a performer to connect with the audience and create a meaningful experience.
JS: What are your biggest challenges as a creative person?
PB: Trying to find a healthy balance between critiquing my work and appreciating the process of continual learning and growth.
JS: Imagine that you are meeting two or three people, living or dead, whom you admire because of their work in your form of artistic expression. What would you say to them and what would they say to you?
PB: I would ask them about what it was like to train, perform, about their life in general as an artist. I’d be interested to know what sparked their interest in a career in arts and what motivated them to continue going forward.
I’d imagine they would be completely open with talking about their personal and professional lives and would encourage me to keep going!
JS: Please describe at least one major turning point in your life that helped to make you who you are as a creative artist.
PB: When I was about 12 years old, I performed a song at the Festival of Friends in Hamilton one summer. There was quite a crowd of people and I was really enjoying the atmosphere. Having finished the song, I began to walk back through the audience and I remember an older gentleman stopping me and handing me a dollar from his pocket into my palms. He said, “Here is your first small earning. It’s not much, but one day, when you’ll be earning a lot more, you can think back and remember this moment. Great job”. The kind gesture from the old man was so sweet and unexpected, it made me realize how just one song can positively impact others and create lasting memories for both performer and listener. Every performance afterwards I felt very grateful for the opportunity to sing for people, and still today I am so humbled when an audience appears to truly enjoy and appreciate my work.
JS: What are the hardest things for an outsider to understand about your life as a person in the arts?
PB: Probably the amount of passion one has to have towards the arts to dedicate many hours perfecting the work. That time and effort can easily be spent doing other things; however, it’s the clear vision in my mind and rewarding feelings of fulfillment that continually motivate me.
JS: Please tell us what you haven’t attempted as yet that you would like to do in the arts? Why the delay so far?
PB: I would love to further challenge myself in dance with more intricate partner-work, lifts and spins…some of these ideas are already in the works- stay tuned for upcoming shows! With voice, I would also love to experiment with challenging pieces, to continue building confidence in my voice and do more performances to build exposure. Time tends to be an issue for this, but I’ve discovered how simply beginning a conversation with just one person can lead to many open doors for new possibilities.
JS: If you could re-live your life in the arts, how would you change it and why?
PB: I would have taken more time when I was younger to truly open up on stage and feel more confident in my abilities and talents instead of being self-conscious.
JS: Let’s talk about the state of the arts in today’s society, including the forms in which you work. What specifically gives you hope and what specifically do you find depressing?
PB: Our audiences and support groups give me hope that cultural arts will continue to thrive and be an appreciated form of art. Social media also provides an opportunity to inform others about our work and is an accessible means of sharing music and dance to people around the world. I’m saddened to think what would happen if cultural identity were lost…I think it’s important to stay connected to your roots whether it be in the form of art, language, food, family traditions or other.
JS: What exactly do you like about the work you create and/or do?
PB: I absolutely love that it is very unique! My dance group choreographs dances that represents different regions of Ukraine- each region has distinct yet recognizable dance steps that can be varied to have a more traditional or modern approach. Our costumes are authentic and are all made in Ukraine. We collaborate with local Ukrainian musicians and are very fortunate to have live music for all our performances. I’ve made lasting friendships with so many talented dancers and singers because of our bond in a love for our culture. With most of my family living overseas in Ukraine, to me music and dance is one way I am able to feel connected to a bigger family and proudly define who I am.
JS: In your creative life thus far, what have been the most helpful comments you have heard about your work?
PB: There have been many people from Ukraine, other parts of Europe, and around the world commenting on how it’s so nice to see Ukrainian dance and culture being actively continued in Canada, and not just by first generation Canadian Ukrainians, but carried on by many generations. Many older seniors in the community often bring up memories of when they used to partake in folk dancing and congratulate our group for keeping the tradition of Ukrainian dance alive. Other non-Ukrainians are just astonished by the intricacies of the footwork and crazy spins and lifts that we do. It’s these kinds of heart-warming positive comments that motivate us to continue striving forward.
JS: Finally, what do you yourself find to be the most intriguing and/or surprising things about you?
PB: That’s a difficult question! I’m not sure what I find surprising, but I find that I’m intrigued by life itself. I think it’s so interesting how we meet certain people in our lives, and along with having our own unique experiences, we are shaped into the people we become. I often think things in life happen for a reason and because of that we are always reflecting, learning and growing. It’s as if our whole lives we are not really finding ourselves, but rather creating ourselves.