Ukrainian folk dance ensemble in Basel
A piece of Ukraine in the heart of Basel
Mriya means “dream” in Ukrainian. We dance traditional Ukrainian folk dances in costume, at festivals, on stages and in town squares from Basel to Lucerne.
Next performanceTodayViazanka & MriyaThursday, 1 October 2026, 19:30Aula Alpenquai, LuzernAbout us
A dream that took root in Basel
Mriya began in May 2023. Most of us are women and children who had to leave our homes in Ukraine because of the war and found a new home in Basel.
In dance we keep a piece of home. At our performances we share it with Basel and show how beautiful and varied Ukrainian folklore is.
Lesya Sutter
Founder, director and choreographer
Lesya is a professional folk dance choreographer. With Mriya she made a long-held dream come true.
Your performance was full of life, heartfelt and truly beautiful.
Mriya, you really are a dream! Thank you for the beauty, the energy and a Ukrainian dance no one could take their eyes off.
Translated from Ukrainian
Costume and tradition
What you see on stage
Вінок
Vinok
The flower crown with long, colourful ribbons. It is the best-known headdress of Ukrainian costume, traditionally worn by girls and young women.
Вишиванка
Vyshyvanka
The embroidered shirt. Its patterns and colours tell you which region of Ukraine it comes from.
Шаровари
Sharovary
The wide trousers of men’s costume, made for high leaps and powerful steps.
Рушник
Rushnyk
The embroidered towel. Guests are welcomed with bread on a rushnyk, and we dance with it too. The patterns on this website are drawn from its embroidery.
Performances
Where to see us
Coming up
- Today
Viazanka & Mriya
The same evening as at Sommercasino, this time in Lucerne, with a collection in support of Ukraine.
Past performances
August 2023
Ukrainian Days in Basel
Basel
Mriya’s first performance, three months after the group was founded.
May 2026
Vyshyvanka Day Basel
Theodorskirchplatz, Basel
A festival of the embroidered shirt, organised by Vyshyvanka in Basel.
September 2026
First tour in Germany
September 2026
Viazanka & Mriya
Sommercasino, Basel
A benefit evening with Viazanka Band, where Ukrainian folk songs meet pop, with dances by Mriya. Doors 19:30. Free entry, the collection goes to humanitarian aid in Kharkiv.
For organisers
Mriya at your event
Festivals, cultural evenings, benefit concerts, town and neighbourhood fairs: tell us about your event.
Send a request
A date, a place and the kind of event are enough to start.
We get in touch
We talk through the programme, length, stage and timing with you.
On stage
We arrive in costume and dance for your audience.
We are glad to be part of your event, not only as decoration, but as a meeting of different cultures.
Book a performance
Thank you, your request has arrived.
We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Join us
Come to a rehearsal
Mriya rehearses in Basel, with one group for adults and one for children. Sign up for a trial rehearsal and we’ll send you all the details.
Adults
Rehearsal times on request
Basel
Children
Rehearsal times on request
Basel
We send you the address when you sign up.
Trial rehearsal
Thank you, we’ve got your sign-up.
We’ll be in touch with everything you need for the next rehearsal.
Photos: Vyshyvanka Day Basel 2026, Ukrainer in Basel, Hugo Marinho