Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Last night Earl and I saw the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company perform at the local auditorium. Until then, the only thing I really knew about the Ukraine was that it had once been part of the now dismantled Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

But, in the space of two hours, approximately fifty amazing men and women taught me a lot about their country. They whirled and twirled around the stage in their native costumes with what could only be called precise abandonment. Each dancer’s movements mirrored a partner’s, when called for, or the entire ensemble’s. A flip of the hand, a turn of the foot, an arch of the back – all perfectly executed and representing hours of practice.The program notes explained the meaning of each of the fourteen dances, something about the region of the Ukraine where the particular dance originated, the symbolism of the costumes, and the history of this dance company, which dates to 1937.

But what impressed me most was how exuberant both the audience and the dancers were. It’s probably safe to say that neither group could understand a word of the other’s language, but in the language of dance we communicated. At the end of the evening, the audience gave the troupe not one, but two, standing ovations. Then the dancers applauded us. I felt as if I had made new friends.