"Shlyakh-Dorizhenka", whose name means "little way, little road", is a youth folklore group that performs folk songs and traditional instrumental music (two violins, cymbals, and tambourine) from different regions of Ukraine.
The group was founded in the village of Makariv (Bucha district, Kyiv region). Due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all members were forced to leave for other regions and countries. Some of them ended up in Germany, where they united with other young folklorists and were able to resume their activities, including charity concerts (Potsdam, Greifswald, Hamburg), participate in events in support of Ukraine (Frankfurt am Oder, Hamburg), music festivals (Cologne, Berlin), organize folklore camps and festivals (Kupala fest in Ferienpark Geesthof).
Shlyakh-Dorizhenka's repertoire includes lyrical, Cossack, soldier, and calendar folk songs.
At concerts in Germany, the band often performs Cossack, soldier, and recruit songs as a sign of honour and gratitude to all the defenders of Ukraine who have defended and are defending our country, who are resisting evil on the battlefield, and whose courage allows them to continue their activities and struggle on another cultural front, in particular, by presenting Ukrainian traditional culture.
"Shlyakh-Dorizhenka" also features a traditional instrumental ensemble - "trio music" (consisting of two violins, cymbals, and a tambourine) - and performs instrumental pieces such as folk dances, including improvisational dances such as polkas, cossacks, waltzes from different regions of Ukraine.
