Traditional music and dance performances celebrate 50 years of the Ukrainian community in Bradford.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain was formed in 1946 and registered as an organisation in the UK in 1947. Bradford branch was one of the earliest branches, forming in 1946 The first Ukrainians to settle in the city were Mr and Mrs Kalyta. Significant founders included Ivan Smereka, Vera Smereka, Wolodymyr Korduba, Mykola Dubishak, Oleksa Oliynuk, Petro Huzij, Yosef Savka and Mr Bubna, amongst others. Also significant in the early days were Father Michael Ratushynskyj, the Ukrainian Catholic priest and Father Yov Skakalskyj, the Ukrainian Orthodox priest.

The first AGM of AUGB Bradford took place on 26 December, 1948 and Walter Korduba was elected as the first chairperson. By 1949, membership had risen to 439 people and there was an active cultural and social life with a choir, drama group and dance ensemble.

In 1950, the branch raised £2,950 and with the assistance of the AUGB Central Committee, it purchased its first cultural centre at 13 Claremont, Great Horton Road. The membership increased to 738 members although this dipped to 569 in 1952 because of employment losses in the textile industry which led to a number of the community emigrating to Canada and the USA.

Community life continues to develop in Bradford and by 1979, the community had outgrown even this extended space and new premises at Westfield on Legrams Lane were purchased. AUGB Bradford continues to be at the heart of the city's Ukrainian committee.

This video documents a concert held in the main hall of the Bradford Ukrainian Cultural Centre to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bradford branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), which was attended by the Ukrainian Ambassador, Serhiy Komisarenko. The excerpt features a performance of a Hutzul dance by Krylati dance ensemble from Bradford choreographed by Olha Stepanovna.