>
After decades of immigration from the former Soviet Union, the ballroom dance world in the United States was predominantly Slavic in origin. But in February 2022, everything changed, as Putin’s war in Ukraine divided dancers living in New York City. Complicated allegiances and an interwoven heritage have now put a tight-knit community on uncertain ground.
News
A virtual tourism experience in ZEPETO
Danavel Wenz Torres, a 25-year-old living in the Philippines, went to the airport to travel to Paris on an ordinary day in March. She turned on the camera and started vlogging. Masks were not required, and no one checked if she was vaccinated. After spending a while at the airport, pretending to wait for her […]
Outraged Chinese diasporas protest against the zero-COVID policy
If you went to the New York Halloween parade this year, did you see a group of 30 people dressed up in white medical suits and holding signs with Chinese characters? The long-going zero-COVID policy and violence against citizens in China have aroused anger of the Chinese diasporas. Most of the protesters were students and […]
Finding home in a bowl of borscht
“Not everybody likes this joke” Alexander Martynov, the 48-year-old owner of Prague’s Ukrainian restaurant The Borsch says, his smile widening. “I’m saying they lose their borscht virginity here.” If you happen to wander into The Borsch, located in the Vinohrady area of Prague, you’ll find a colorful display of culture and cuisine. Printed pillows hang […]
‘No genocide of ethnic minorities!’: Russian Kalmyks say Putin’s military draft is targeting them disproportionally
On Sept. 23, a group of Kalmyks — an Asian ethnic minority in Russia — called for the end of partial mobilization (military draft) in Russia, which was announced by Vladimir Putin two days prior. They claimed that the process targets the ethnic population in disproportionately large numbers. The protest took place outside of the […]
Community Board 5 offers little hope for pedestrians seeking a reprieve from speeding e-bikes
NEW YORK – The debate regarding unsafe e-bike usage continued Thursday night as Manhattan’s Community Board 5 fielded calls to action on zoom from residents of New York’s most densely populated district. One Midtown resident, who was introduced on the Zoom meeting as Charles, voiced her concerns, saying she has witnessed e-bike riders running red […]
Frozen in Fear: Have We Stopped Caring About the News We Watch?
It can feel like nothing. Perhaps a tinge of hopelessness, a feeling of lethargy and despair, just not one large enough to be unmasked. In February, the news broke that Russia had launched a military invasion of Ukraine — the most significant conflict in Europe since World War II. As with most news, I learned about […]
Hundreds participated in Walkathon in Battery Park to Save Soil
NEW YORK: The global Save Soil Movement arrived in New York on June 18th 2022, when a walkathon took place to create awareness about soil degradation issues around the world. More than a hundred concerned citizens and volunteers dressed in well-marked green uniforms rallied at Battery Park, Downtown New York, for the Save Soil awareness […]
Ukrainian Museum of New York provides sanctuary for Ukrainian culture
Tucked away between bustling Second Avenue and Cooper Square, on quiet 6th Street lies the Ukrainian Museum of New York, where for only $8, New Yorkers can both discover and immerse themselves in Ukrainian culture. While visiting, guests can admire the traditional pysanky — Ukrainian Easter eggs covered in colorful dyes and intricate designs — […]
Rylee Jean Ebsen Q & A
Storytelling came naturally to the award-winning filmmaker Rylee Jean Ebsen, who is the granddaughter of TV star Buddy Ebsen and comedian Stan Freberg, and also a graduate of NYU Film. She has directed commercials for the world’s largest brands, including Disney, Amazon, and Google. She was also one of the first employees at Snapchat, which […]