Friends!

On this day 137 years ago, was born the famous choreographer and “dance magician "Vasily Costiv, better known under the pseudonym Verhovinets.

He was born in the village of Staryi Mizun, in the family of a poor peasant. He went to an ordinary local school, and at the age of 12 moved to the city. There he studied at the seminary at Stavropigiyska Institute. Later, he entered the seminary teacher school at Sambor, after which he taught in rural schools.

It would seem to Vasyl Kostiv expected a regular life. And everything turned out differently. His love of theater changed everything. For several years, he performed as a singer and actor in the theater "Russian talk" when suddenly, during a tour he was noticed by Mykola Sadovsky, about whom I have already told you. Vasily was invited to join their company. "In the summer, I went to another young actor Costiv, who later played under the name of Verkhovynets. This young but very musical guy gave me the idea to translate the opera "Pebbles" and "Cavalleria Rusticana".

In the theater, Verhovinets was an actor, and choirmaster and conductor, as well as choreographer. Sofia Tobilevych wrote of him: "Dance troupe was in charge of young, very capable guy from Galicia. Unfortunately, the memory has not kept its name. But he has to be remembered, he was a very talented person and has been known not only in dance but also in singing and music. In the days when the theater prepared to opera performances, the young artist was very useful to Sadovsky. "

He later changed the theater, was a conductor, led the chorus, and the most memorable thing – he was the first theorist of Ukrainian folk dance. He made first Ukrainian ballet "Mr. Kanovskyy." Later, with his wife Evdokia Dolya they organized first female country vocal and choreographic ensemble called "Zhinhorans."

He admired folk dances, studied them whole his life. Dedicated a whole textbook to it - "Theory of Ukrainian folk tank."

Unfortunately, Verkhovinets’ life ended tragically. Several times he was arrested, government tried to incriminate him belonging to the "Union for the Liberation of Ukraine" organization, but could not fabricate the necessary evidences. When he was arrested for the third time, he was forcibly made to confess the fact that in 1919 he organized in Poltava rebel revolt against Soviet power. Vasyl was accused of espionage for Poland. The final of this case was previously known. Verkhovynets was sentenced to death, he was executed on the 11th of April, 1938. And, of course, posthumously rehabilitated.

Here's a she, the fate of "Ukrainian dance magician." We all should know who gave their lives so that we could watch the wonderful Ukrainian dance performances.