In 1967, Rosalie and Joseph Kitz decided they would take over the operations of the St. Peter and Pauls Ukrainian Dancers. Their children were dancing with the group, and this would allow them the opportunity to become more involved with the group and their children. The club was operating out of the basement of the church and was doing well, but Joseph learned that grant money was available from the city for cultural groups such as theirs. To become eligible for these grants, the club would have to become a separate entitiy from the church. So under the supervision of lawyers and MLA’s, Mr. Kitz and Father Bzdel, the minister in the church at that time, applied for Non-Profit status of the club. Father Bzdel decided that they would name the group the Boyan and Bandura Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. And with that, the Boyan Ukrainian Dance Association was started. Over the years to come, failure to find instruction in the Bandura led to that portion of the name and club to be dropped, but the dance continues to live strong!
2023-2024 Executive
President:
Christine Hanson
Vice-President/Facilities:
Megan Jackson
Treasurer:
Pam Kropola
Secretary/Registrar:
Nicole Niedzielski
Bookkeeper:
Megan Myer
Communications:
Orysia Stephaniuk
Costumes:
Rene Keller
Member at Large:
Crystal Nowakowski
Member at Large:
Jordan Kotyk
2022-2023 Instructors
Heidi Armstrong
Heidi Armstrong began dancing at five years old with Lloydminster Malanka Dancers. Growing up in Lloydminster, Heidi participated in dance, various sports and volunteered as an assistant instructor. In 2005 she joined Sopilka Ensemble in Vegreville, AB. With Sopilka Heidi toured Ukraine, danced on a Caribbean Cruise ship, and performed at the Quebec400 Celebrations.
In 2008 Heidi joined Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in Edmonton, AB under the direction of Zhenia Bahri. During this time, she performed in Volya’s Grassroots tour through the Prairie Provinces and travelled to Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey to dance in
international festivals.
Heidi moved to Saskatoon in 2010 and joined Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble. She has had the opportunity to perform with PFE at events around Saskatoon and travelled with them in 2012 to perform on a Caribbean Cruise ship.
Heidi studied a year abroad in Brisbane, Australia and danced with and instructed the Brisbane Kalyna Dancers. In conjunction with the Community Folk Ensemble ‘Teren’, the Kalyna Dancers travelled to Sydney for the Australian National Ukrainian Festival. She also
danced with the Brisbane Alpenrosen dancers and performed at the Australian National Volkstanzfest in 2013.
Heidi is also a member of the Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler
Verein Dancers in Saskatoon. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology and is working towards her Masters in Physical Therapy at the University of Saskatchewan.
Heidi began teaching with Boyan in 2013 and is excited to share in the organization’s growth and development.
Tawni Cherepuschak
Tawni Cherepuschak began dancing at nine years old with the Nipawin Veselii Dancers. Born and raised in Nipawin, SK, she was an active participant in the Ukrainian dance group, both as a participant and assistant instructor throughout the years. Prior to moving to Saskatoon in 2011, she also participated in both hip-hop and ballet through the Nipawin School of Dance.
In the fall of 2011, Tawni began performing with Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble under the artistic direction of Vitali Sorokotaguine. One of her most memorable experiences performing with Yevshan includes touring Ukraine in the summer of 2012.
In the fall of 2013, Tawni joined Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble and began performing under the artistic direction of Serhij Koroluik. Her most memorable performing experiences to date with PFE was headlining at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, MB in 2013 and touring Argentina and Brazil in the summer of 2022.
Tawni holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Education and is currently a substitute teacher with the school divisions in and and around Saskatoon. She is also certified in the Rodovid Beginner and Junior curriculums, as well as Shumka Syllabus of Ukrainian Dance Tiers 1 and 2, and has over 15 years of dance instruction experience.
Tawni is looking forward to another excellent year of dance with Boyan!
Austyn Kozun
Austyn grew up in Nipawin, SK and started dancing at the age of 4 with the Nipawin Veselii
Dancers. He danced with Nipawin for 14 years until he graduated high school. In Nipawin,
Austyn helped on the family farm and played many other sports such as hockey, baseball, and
volleyball to name a few.
Once Austyn graduated, he moved to Moose Jaw to peruse a career in the Electrical Engineering Technologist Program. At the same time, he also auditioned for the Pavlychneko Folklorique Ensemble (PFE). Austyn started dancing with PFE in 2014. Driving back and forth from Moose Jaw and Saskatoon for school and dance practice showed his dedication to Ukrainian dance.
When Austyn graduated from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, he moved to Saskatoon to work for Saskatoon Light and Power. This gave him the opportunity to dance full time with PFE and begin to build lifelong friends and buy a house in Saskatoon.
In 2017 he toured with PFE to Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary and Ukraine. Performing all over Saskatchewan with PFE brings Austyn joy and love for the Ukrainian community.
Austyn was given the opportunity to start teaching Ukrainian dance 2018. Since then, he has never looked back. He loves teaching kids and having the opportunity to share Ukrainian culture with the younger generation. Austyn continues to dance with PFE and teach in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Recently, Austyn returned from his second dance tour with PFE from Argentina and Brazil, Two Worlds One Soul Tour.