ABOUT US

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The Ardrossan Yatran Ukrainian Dance Association endeavors to preserve the art of Ukrainian folk dance and Ukrainian culture. We provide dancers with the opportunity to develop an appreciation for Ukrainian dance and attain the highest level of personal achievement possible. We participate in festivals and performances in our community and beyond, in the hopes of sharing our love for dance with others!

Ardrossan Yatran is a non-profit society and has been run by volunteers since 1981 in the hamlet of Ardrossan. We welcome dancers from all areas, all levels of experience and from ages 3 to adult. Together we ignite plenty of spirit to fuel the “Yatran” (bonfire)! Join us and become part of the Yatran Family!

OUR INSTRUCTORS

MURRAY STEELE

Murray began Ukrainian dancing more than 28 years ago, completing his training at Shumka School of Dance. Since then, Murray has performed across Canada and internationally with Viter Ukrainian Dancers, Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, and the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, the company he still performs with today. Murray has also had the pleasure of performing as a guest artist for the Goh Ballet in Vancouver, Citie Ballet in Edmonton, Alberta Ballet in Calgary, and Aspen-Santa Fe Ballet in Colorado and New Mexico. In 2018, Murray was recognized by the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts with a Top 30 Under 30 Award for his contribution to the Ukrainian Arts in Alberta.

Murray brings more than 17 years of experience as an instructor to our dancers, and we are lucky to have him contribute his dance knowledge, expertise and patience to our youngest dance groups at Yatran.

TRINITY KENNETH

Trinity began her training in Ukrainian dance at the Shumka School of Dance, and began performing with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in 2001. She had the opportunity to perform on multiple tours in China, and danced with Shumka’s 50th Anniversary performances. Trinity has remained highly involved with the company, sitting on the Artistic Committee and serving as the Costume Director. Her dedication and hard work contributes to the colour and beauty of each Shumka performance. In 2021, Trinity received a Membership with Distinction Award for her considerable and ongoing artistic contributions to the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers.

Trinity has been a highly-respected and beloved instructor at Shumka School of Dance and here at Yatran combined for more than a decade. Her beautiful choreography has been widely recognized and awarded at dance festivals across Alberta, and our older dancers benefit from her creativity each year in their performances!

ANNIKKA DOBKO

Annikka’s dance training began at the age of four, studying ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary and Ukrainian dance. At 15, she left home to pursue further ballet training at the School of Alberta in Calgary, where she also danced with Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.

In addition to graduating from Kirov Academy of Ballet, Annikka has also studied at the Royal Ballet School Antwerp in Belgium, American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet in New York, The National Ballet of Canada in Toronto, Ballet West in Salt Lake City and Oklahoma City Ballet. In 2017, she joined Shumka Ukrainian Dancers, where she dances today.

Annikka is a certified Royal Academy of Dance instructor, and has completed her ballet exams with distinction in Cechetti and Vagonova. We are grateful to have her instruct our technique classes, offering her expertise in the more technical aspects of dance to our Yatran dancers.