On the International Dance Day: Hopak – the martial art of the Zaporozhians

On the International Dance Day: Hopak – the martial art of the Zaporozhians

…Ukrainians are born with dance in their blood.

1. Virsky

 Since April 29, 1982, on the birthday of the French ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), a reformer and theorist of choreographic art remembered in history as the “father of modern ballet,” UNESCO has celebrated International Dance Day. This art form has a history spanning thousands of years and is not just physical exercise, but also a way of knowing oneself and the world. Regardless of style and direction, it speaks an international body language that people on all continents understand. Ukrainian society is no exception in its devotion to dance: according to the Ukrainian Dance Federation, 20% of Ukrainians enjoy dancing and do so on any occasion. No Ukrainian holiday has ever been complete without dancing.

 However, today we will discuss a very special type of dance that has long become a hallmark of Ukrainian culture – the ancient Ukrainian dance, the hopak. The history of hopak is closely tied to the Zaporozhzhia Sich and the combat training of the Zaporozhzhia Cossacks in the 16th-18th centuries. It was a mass dance of the Cossacks, a dialogue that showcased the dancers’ character, strength, and courage. The dance imitated combat movements, including jumps, kicks, and quick turns, which symbolized the readiness of the Cossacks for battle. Traditional hopak movements are a harmonious system of the ancient military art of our ancestors. Even the 9th-century Byzantine historian Lev Deacon, describing the campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav the Brave, spoke of the “sons of satanic magicians” who learned military art through dance. Sometimes it seems that some dance figures require a certain completeness. Imagine that the dancer holds a Cossack saber in their hands, and the execution of the movements becomes quite understandable. The dancer will transform into an invincible, deadly warrior, slashing down dozens of enemies around him.

The participants of the dance performed “warlike” movements. At the same time, their fellow spectators loudly supported them with shouts of “Hop!” and “Hey! There is a version that this is where the name of the dance came from – hopak. Or perhaps the name of the dance comes from the word “hopalo” – guard. The dictionary of the Ukrainian language gives us the following explanation: “hopaty – to jump and stomp, to jump or dance”.

Hopak is widespread throughout Ukraine, with numerous variants in different regions. There are many varieties of hopak: solo, in pairs, and in groups. Especially in the western regions, it is performed standing in a circle. In the second half of the 17th century, folk versions of the hopak emerged in the Cherkasy, Kherson, and Kyiv regions, where not only men but women participated, with female lyrics added to the traditional male heroics. In the 18th century, folk versions of the hopak spread throughout Ukraine, and the first attempts to create theatrical versions of hopak appeared, for example, at balls held at the estates of landowners or on the stages of serf theaters.

Since the 19th century, the performance of hopak has become an integral part of theatrical performances, completing the performances of I. Kotlyarevsky’s “Natalka Poltavka”, T. Shevchenko’s “Nazar Stodolya”, etc.

The new history of hopak began in 1937 with the creation of the Ukrainian Song and Dance Ensemble, led by Pavlo Pavlovich Virsky (1905-1975) from 1955 to 1975. He created academic folk dances based on classical and traditional folklore, and staged the famous hopak, which is still performed in concerts by the National Honored Academic Dance Ensemble of Ukraine, named after P. Virsky.

Choreographers consider the Hopak one of the most complex dances in the world. It is difficult to find a spectator who would not enjoy watching a performance of hopak: the dance uses complex tricks and high-speed jumps at a frantic pace, which is a pleasure to watch.

Today, hopak remains a symbol of Ukrainian culture and identity, reflecting not only the past but also an essential element of modern cultural expression. The dance has adapted to the realities of modernity, combining modern choreography with the traditional Cossack spirit.