By Catrina Bowles
“We do not have auditions. We find a place for everyone,” says Karen Pysyk, chairperson of Yalenka. “It’s really special to see something where everyone who wants to be on stage is on stage.”
For the past 15 years, Yalenka’s annual recitals have followed a four-seasons theme, inspired by a book of Ukrainian folklore, legends and songs that Yalenka artistic director Natasha Olshevska received from a former dance teacher. In 2025, Yalenka marked its 50th anniversary, so the organization wanted to make that year’s winter-fantasy-themed recital extra special.
“We had additional special dances that were only featured because of the anniversary year,” says Pysyk. “The opportunity to do these big multigenerational projects felt like a special opportunity to apply for a grant.”
And so they did, successfully receiving Calgary Arts Development’s Project Grant for Organizations. Among the new additions to the recital was a traditional Ukrainian embroidery dance that Yalenka re-creates every five years. The dance brings together dancers ages 15 to 55. Yalenka also put on a large all-male group number, featuring dancers ranging from around 13 to 60 years old. Bringing together dancers from multiple generations reflects Yalenka’s value in preserving tradition and passing it down.
For the show’s costumes, the grant allowed Yalenka the budgetary freedom to source new costume pieces directly from Ukraine. Without the Calgary Arts Development grant, the recital would not have been able to feature the extra dances with new, authentic costumes and more dancers. Students would also have had to pay higher tuition fees, making the dance school less accessible.
And it was a big success. For the first time, Yalenka sold out all 500 seats at the University of Calgary’s University Theatre. The performance attracted both newcomers and Yalenka alumni, many of whom had danced with the company 15 to 20 years ago.
“I think we also attracted new attention, probably more than we have in the past,” says Tina Guthrie, Yalenka’s grant co-ordinator. “We had quite a few new students join the school this year.”
With new students joining the school and alumni reconnecting to pass on traditions, the team at Yalenka hopes that, even as they grow, they will hold true to their core values and respond to the needs of the children. The team feels it’s important to showcase cultural events throughout the city, and to pay tribute and remember traditions so they aren’t lost to time. The extracurricular market is tough, but Pysyk firmly believes Yalenka has something truly unique to offer.
“There’s a lot of dance schools in Calgary,” says Pysyk. “But what makes us special is the community and family focus. The fact that Tina and I can dance on stage with our children, and we have grandparents dancing on stage with their grandchildren, is really, really special. I don’t think that exists anywhere else.”