In the kolomyika, as performed in contemporary Ukrainian communities in Canada and other countries, the dancers join first into a large circle, traveling one way then the other, rushing into the center and out. The second figure of the dance, and one that may last half an hour or longer, involves individuals or small groups moving into the centre of the circle to perform “solos,” special steps or acrobatic feats for the others, who stand and clap. The dance is very popular in Ukrainian community weddings and zabava parties in those cities and towns that support a staged Ukrainian dance group.

The dance functions simultaneously as a symbol of Ukrainian identity, a vehicle for artistic expression, as great fun, and perhaps as a ritual that “blesses” the marriage.