Kokulenko B. Implementation of folk traditions and rituals in modern Ukrainian folk choreography of Kirovograd region

The present paper deals with the problem of folk traditions and rituals implementation in modern Ukrainion folk choreography of Kirovograd region. The research is focused on the content, structure and general tendencies of folk rituals implementation in choreography as a problem of art study. The history of Central Ukrainian choreographic culture is regarded as a blend of different sources of its origine and tendencies which reflect the life of peoplе who lived in the area in the XVII-XVIII centuries. The first Ukrainian professional theatre which originated in Elisovetgrad (Kirovograd) was on the one hand the result of people's art development, on the other hand used a lot of folk songs and dances in its drama. Interinfluence of the folk artistic dance and the dance of every day gave an impluse for the development of Ukrainian dance in the country. The progress of choreographic culture in Kirovograd region was much contributed by Mikola Ankudinov, Rostislav Zaharov's disciple. Later even a more important role was played by A. Krivohizha in this area. The dancing group "Yatran" founded by him became the symbol of folk choreography. Observing the development of folk dancing in Kirovograd region the author traces a vivildy exspressed tendency for the domination of Ukrainian repertoire of dancing groups notwithstanding ethnic diversity in the area. The author introduces the term ethnochoreography and finds it adequate to characterise the idea of folk dance and its ties with people's traditions and rituals. The paper accentuates on creative implementation of the "Yatran" programmes by its followers. The author considers the characteristics of regional rituals and traditions and the ways they are implemented in folk choreography, particularly the contribution of Ukrainian theatre leading figures in the dance development, also the impact of the "Yatran" dancing group upon the choreography of the region and the whole Ukrainiane.