Tamara Layman Ethnic Dance Theatre 314 Clifton Avenue, Suite 105 Minneapolis MN 55403 (612) 870-8831 info@ethnicdancetheatre.com www.ethnicdancetheatre.com

Mila Vocal Ensemble (of the Ethnic Dance Theatre) European, North American music This all-female vocal ensemble sings traditional ethnic a cappella songs, specializing in Eastern European traditions. Songs are sung in native languages and employ challenging vocal techniques. Mila Vocal Ensemble performs solo, as well as with members of the Ethnic Dance Theatre Folk Orchestra and Dance Troupe. Each of the women in Mila Vocal Ensemble has training in voice performance. Aleksandra Veriga grew up in Serbia and sang with Krsmanac, a professional traditional chorus. Jana Stow's has danced with Peer Gynt Norwegian Dancers since she was very young. Gunta Pone has sung with the Teiksma Latvian Folk Ensemble since she was a teenager. Natalie Nowytski has danced with the Cheremosh Ukrainian Ensemble, sung with the Ukrainian choral ensemble Dnipro, and directed her Ukrainian church choir. Carol Bauer and Carol Buche grew up singing folk songs in their respective Swedish and Norwegian musical families. Members of Mila are available to conduct vocal workshops and collaborate with other musical groups, whether in an educational setting or a professional setting. Their music attracts audiences of all ethnicities and ages. Available: Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays; other days and times negotiable upon request Space: From concert halls to schools to private homes, we can adapt to most available spaces. Fee: $300 to $600, negotiable, plus mileage reimbursement for performances outside the Twin Cities

Additional Information:
Mila Vocal Ensemble, part of the Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT), is comprised of seven women whose repertoire represents folk music from nearly 30 different cultures. Mila specializes in Eastern European, as the harmonic traditions in this part of the world are naturally well suited for choirs. The group's full repertoire, however, includes songs from all over Europe, North America, and Asia. The vocal styles within these cultures are as varied as the cultures themselves.
Mila strives for authenticity in its performances, which frequently means detailed research leading to a heightened understanding of the cultures represented. Mila is fortunate that some of its members come from the countries being represented (Latvia, Serbia, Ukraine). Also, each of the seven singers has expertise in at least one culture. As a result, authenticity can often be determined internally. This is particularly important when representing cultures whose language has been adversely affected by another culture's temporary domination.
Mila's parent organization, Minneapolis-based Ethnic Dance Theatre, was founded in 1974. Mila was formed several years later to help educate audiences on music as cultural narrative. Although "Mila" is a new name for these vocalists, the ensemble has had a significant presence in the performing arts community, both nationally and internationally, for nearly two decades and has been a Minnesota Music Award nominee. The current vocalists joined Mila for various reasons: cultural ties, love of music and performing, interest in languages and cultures, and familiarity with EDT as a folk ensemble. Some Mila vocalists joined the group as professionally trained singers, while others come from family singing traditions. One led a Ukrainian Orthodox church choir. Most of the singers have also performed with other folk ensembles in the United States and abroad.
The group has studied with renowned vocalists from Bulgaria, Hungary, Tibet, Spain, and the United States and often uses Minnesota's ethnic communities such as Armenian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Latvian, Polish, Serbian, and Ukrainian as resources. Such community ties have helped Mila represent cultures accurately and hone already precise vocal and pronunciation skills. Ties with the Latvian community have resulted in a rehearsal space in the Latvian Community Center.
Mila's repertoire consists of traditional folk arrangements and choral arrangements of traditional folk songs. Much of this repertoire has been taken from old songbooks and field recordings, although a significant amount derives from master classes and workshops with natives. All transcriptions of lyrics are done by language experts and native speakers.Mila Vocal Ensemble performs a cappella and with musical accompaniment. The group has done collaborations with other performing groups and has conducted workshops with other choirs in the Midwest as part of its commitment to education and cultural awareness.