Kralytsia is a folk ensemble founded in 1991 at the Department of Folklore Studies, Folk Song, and Instrumental Performance of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. The founder and artistic director is Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine, Professor Ivan Sinelnikov.
The ensemble takes its name from the mythical spring image-totem — the goddess of vegetation among the ancient Slavs. The main focus of the ensemble’s creative activity is the research and promotion of Ukrainian folk customs, rituals, songs, choreography, and instrumental music.
The imitation and stage interpretation of folk singing traditions, the theatrical form of concert performances, and bright traditional folk costumes all give the youth ensemble Kralytsia its unique and authentic character.
The repertoire is based on folk songs collected by the ensemble’s director and students during field expeditions in the Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Dnipro, and Chernihiv regions. The ensemble is a laureate of numerous international competitions and festivals, and has toured in Estonia, Poland, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and other countries.
Artistic Director: Ivan Sinelnikov
