Ukrainian dancers to perform on May 5

The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Folklife Program for New Jersey will present the Iskra Ukrainian Folkdance Ensemble in a program set for 3 p.m. on May 5 at the New Jersey Veterans Home at Menlo Park, 132 Evergreen Road, Edison.

Ensemble members will share the folk traditions of Ukraine by performing a number of dances including the "arkan," the "hopak," the "hutsulka" and the "kolo richky." The dancers will be joined by Ukrainian accordionist Alex Chudolij.

Funding for the event is provided by Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

To register for the free program, call the commission at (732) 745-4489. Individuals with hearing disabilities may call (732) 745-3888 TTY, or 711, via the New Jersey Relay System.

The New Jersey Veterans Home is a fully accessible site; an assistive-listening system will be in use during the performance.

The Folklife Program for New Jersey was instituted in 1990 to broaden the appreciation and availability of folk arts, folklore and folklife within Middlesex County; to identify and preserve folk traditions expressed by the people of Central New Jersey; to provide a forum for the presentation of New Jersey and regional folk artists, recognized by their community for their excellence; and to encourage public involvement in the folk arts through educational programming and cross-cultural exchange.