Our Team
Katherine Hucal-Poitras
Katherine comes with 30 years of teaching experience and 40 years of Ukrainian dance experience. Katherine grew up at the UNF Hall in Sudbury dancing for the School of Dance, Veselka Dance Ensemble and singing with the Dnipro Choir. She has performed and traveled with the choir and dance group to various parts of the world, South America, Spain/France, Venezuela and throughout many parts of Canada. Katherine joined the Haydamaky Dancers in 1994-1996 (Toronto). She had the opportunity to perform with the Kalyna Dance Ensemble of UNF Hall – Toronto Branch in 1995 touring Florida and was a dancer for the Cabaret Troupe UDS (Ukrainian Dance Soloists) in Toronto (1996-1998). She has attended numerous workshops and has organized shows for festivals and concerts for many years. She teaches to share her love of Ukrainian Dance with others and to learn more about herself, and her abilities, as a dancer. “Dance teaches us to express ourselves, to learn balance, discipline, commitment and an understanding of our bodies. Dance is a very personal expression of one self and can be an escape from the stresses in life. I love it and it’s a huge part of my life.”
Mariah Kruk-Edmunds
Mariah jumped into Ukrainian dancing at the age of 7 with the School of Dance at the UNF Hall in Sudbury, Veselka Dancers. Mariah began assisting with teaching dance while she was in high school, and quickly grew a passion for sharing Ukrainian dance with others. She is now Katherine’s assistant and right-hand with Nasha Rodyna Dance Ensemble. Mariah is a graduate of the Music Performance Programme at Cambrian College, she is currently teaching music lessons from her self-run business MARIAH EDMUNDS MUSIC. Mariah comes from a big family and loves having the opportunity to teach with the Nasha Rodyna team, sharing what she has learned with her younger siblings, cousins, the rest of the dance school, and now her own children. Mariah is proud to be Canadian grown with Ukrainian roots.
Sky is a 29 year old dance instructor from Sudbury, Ontario. He first started dancing as a child in his Mom's basement to Britney Spears but began formal training at 16 at Sudbury Secondary School. At 17 he got accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School where he attended for a summer. At 19 he moved to Calgary and attended the School of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. He later moved to Edmonton and danced with Toy Guns Dance Theatre and Tony Olivares Dance. He returned to Sudbury in 2018 and continues to teach classes, share his love of dance and inspire rooms full of students to move passionately!
Skyler (Sky) Slywchuk
Argyll Boyd
Argyll began highland dancing from ages 4-7. Her mother danced at the UNF Hall in Sudbury for many years and Argyll loved watching her mother perform. In 2009, she joined St. Mary’s School of Dance and is excited to share her passion for Ukrainian dance with all the little dancers. Argyll has enjoyed teaching the Malenky Zirky - small stars for many years and she is looking forward to teaching the Karpaty Dancers (ages 10-12). Argyll will be attenbding her first year of University at Laurentian studying restoration biology! She is super excited for another great year of dance!