Mackenzie is a Registered Nurse, currently working as a Clinical Resource Nurse at the Health Sciences Centre Women's Hospital, since graduating with her Bachelor of Nursing degree in September 2019. Residing in south Winnipeg, the majority of Mackenzie’s dancing was with the Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School where she was a student for 12 years. Growing up in Sopilka, she experienced the amazing development and evolution of the school, preparing her to become an instructor. This allowed her to work closely with the school’s director, Kristina Washchyshyn, where she gained instructional, technical and administrative experience. Mackenzie was also the Program Leader for the City of Winnipeg for 5 years, teaching and organizing the Kinder and Junior ballet programs at Pan Am Pool.

Along with Sopilka, Mackenzie has danced with the Selo Ukrainian Dancers in Anola, MB before finding her home at Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. She has ballet training from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, most recently completing the Adult Summer Ballet Program, as well as from the Shelley Shearer School of Dance in both ballet and jazz.

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She has attended many Ukrainian dance and teaching workshops within Manitoba, as well as an intensive training camp in Edmonton with current and past Shumka dance members. She’s been fortunate to train under well-known and talented choreographers including Anna and Vasyl Kanevets, Serhij Koroliuk, Vincent Rees, Jenn and Paul Doroniuk, Johanna Chabluk, Kristina Washchyshyn as well as various others from across Canada and Ukraine. She's also had the opportunity to perform in a variety of festivals and competitions. These include Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, the Vegreville Ukrainian Pysanka Festival in Alberta and the Ukrainian Dance and the International Ukrainian Dance and Culture Festival in Lviv, Ukraine. She has also performed in Thompson, Manitoba as well as throughout Ukraine to study and perform alongside Troyanda.

Mackenzie has been the acting Director since September 2016 and has enjoyed watching the dancers grow and thrive. She is excited to see where Selkirk & District can continue to go in coming years.

Adam grew up dancing with Selkirk & District, alongside his younger brother Ian, before moving on to be an ensemble member of Troyanda where he has been dancing since 2012. He had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine with the group in August 2017 and perform along with Mackenzie and Olivia. Through Ukrainian dance, Adam has been able to perform across Canada, the United States, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, and most recently, as a guest performer in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Adam graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Therapy.

Olivia began her dance career at Selkirk and District at age seven, alongside her five year old brother, John. She continued through the school—eventually making her way up to Fialka, where she danced for five years. In 2009, Olivia auditioned for the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and has been dancing with them ever since. Over the years, she has danced under the Artistic Direction of Tom Mokry, Liana Stecky, Kristina Frykas, Andrew Chubey, Paul Doroniuk, and Jenn Doroniuk. Through Ukrainian dance, Olivia has been able to perform across Canada, the United States, Colombia, and Ukraine. Some of her most memorable performances include performing Trepak in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker and performing in the International Ukrainian Dance and Culture Festival in Lviv, Ukraine. 

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Olivia also has a passion for Gymnastics, and is a NCCP certified Gymnastics coach with over 15 years of experience.

In 2017, Olivia graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor or Arts degree, majoring in Conflict Resolution Studies. Since 2016, she has been employed by the Government of Manitoba and is currently a Correspondence Secretary in the Office of the Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness. 

Biography Coming Soon...

Sam grew up dancing with Selo Ukrainian Dancers in Anola, MB as well as the Royal Conservatory taking ballet. In 2010 she joined Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and just recently retired in November 2022. Highlights of her time with Troyanda include performing in Ukraine in 2017, a workshop with the Volyn State Ensemble in 2018, and the recent Triptych show debuted by Troyanda in November 2022.

Sam has experience instructing and creating choreography for the Mahutnniy Ukrainian Dancers out of Anola, MB. Currently, she is a grade 7 teacher at Springfield Middle School. She was recently the ambassador for the Kyiv Ukraine pavilion in 2022 and is currently an Ambassador General for Folklorama in 2023.

Jon is excited to be returning to teach at Selkirk & District! Jon is an alumni member of Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, having danced from 2006 through 2010, and previously taught for many years with Selkirk & District as well. Jon grew up dancing in the school, and has also danced with Zirka Ukrainian Dancers in Dauphin, MB, as well as Rozmai and Melos in Winnipeg.

Jon is a retired RCMP officer, currently working to enter the field of prairie restoration landscaping. He has two daughters both of which who dance in the school.

Jen started Ukrainian dance at age 8 with the Veselka Dancers of the Teulon Ukrainian Dance Club. At age 15, she moved on to Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble where she was a member for 10 years. Within that time, she also danced with Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble for 5 years.

Throughout her many years as a dancer she had opportunities to travel and perform, including: Expo 86 Vancouver; Festival By The Sea, New Brunswick; Grandstand at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival and at Vegreville Pysanka Festival; RWB’s production of Swan Lake; Soyuzivka Ukrainian Festival, New York; New Jersey Ukrainian Festival ; Disneyland; San Diego Ukrainian Festival. She also toured with Troyanda to Ukraine and to Australia with Rusalka. She has taken part in various memorable workshops with highly esteemed choreographers in Ukraine, including Myroslav Vantukh (Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble in Kyiv), Daria Lastivka (Bukovinian Folk Ensemble in Chernivtsi), Ivan Koroliuk (Hutsul State Ensemble in Ivano Frankivsk) and Mykhailo Vanivsky (Yunisy Honored State Ensemble in Lviv)

Jen also has an extensive history as an instructor, teaching for 18 years at the Teulon Veselka Ukrainian Dance Club, Arborg Reechka Ukrainian Dance Club and Gimli Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Club. She also taught for 10 years previously with Selkirk and District Ukrainian School of Dance, prior to returning in 2022.

Jen worked for 16 years with Great West Life Assurance Corporation as a Financial Analyst. Currently, she is a stay-at-home mom, raising her son and daughter. Her daughter dances in the Junior Girls class at Selkirk & District.