Sitka has one of the oldest and most culturally significant communities in Alaska and is located on the western coast of Baranof Island. The original inhabitants were the Tlingit Indians, until the Russian Empire occupied Sitka in 1804. It soon became Russia's most important Pacific port and headquarters to the most profitable fur trading company in the world, the Russian-American Company. When Alaska was sold to the United States in 1867,  it was the seat of territorial government until making way to Juneau in 1906. Today, Sitka has a population of around 9,000, and the town has changed very little in physical size from when the Tlingit Indians called the area their home.

This extremely colorful display, with catchy music and humorous storylines, is performed with tremendous expressiveness by these skilled women. The brightly colored and flowing costumes add a light and airy nature to the dances, each one telling a different folk tale.

Since 1969, this all-woman dance troupe has performed their series of authentic Russian, Moldavian, Byelorussian and Ukrainian folk dances. Trained by Russian choreographers, the dancers perform in traditional costumes at the Harrigan Centennial Hall in Sitka, as well at many special events and festivals. All of the dancers are local volunteers between 21 and 50 years of age. No men are allowed into the troupe, since in the early days the women's husband's and boyfriends were not interested in the dancing. Now that the ladies travel and perform all around the world, the men get to stay at home and mind the house and look after the children.