Forest Song

Valentyna Matyushenko is a Ukrainian dance artist, choreographer, and educator whose career includes performance, creation, and teaching in both Ukraine and Canada. She is the Artistic Director of the Leleka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in Saskatoon and has dedicated her life to sharing and preserving Ukrainian culture and traditions through dance.

Her professional background includes performing with dance ensembles in Kyiv, as well as teaching and choreographing for Ukrainian dance schools in Ukraine and across Saskatchewan.

Some of her most significant choreographic projects include the folk ballet Forest Song by Lesia Ukrainka, research-based works such as Easter in Pysanka, and participation in an Artist-in-Residence project at the Remai Modern gallery in collaboration with Dance Saskatchewan. Valentyna studied Ukrainian dance from childhood and later pursued formal training in choreography at Kyiv University of Arts and Culture in Ukraine. She has continued to deepen her artistic practice through lifelong mentorship in choreography and pedagogy, including study with leading Ukrainian choreographers like  Valeriy Debelyi and Leonid Sydorchuk .

Marichka Matyushenko is a Ukrainian folk dance artist based in Saskatoon, SK. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, she grew up dancing competitively with Leleka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. She now teaches with Leleka and has spent two years dancing with the Yevshan Folk Ballet Ensemble. Ukrainian dance lets her honour her Ukrainian heritage as well as connect with the broader Ukrainian community. Some of her performance highlights include her international performances in Ukraine, Chile, and Morocco. Marichka strives to continuously learn more about authentic Ukrainian folk dance but also loves to create more contemporary and lyrical influenced pieces.

Rachel Sawitsky is a Saskatoon-based dancer born and raised in the city. She began her dance training in Ukrainian dance with Rushnychok Ukrainian Folkdance Association. Through Rushnychok, she travelled to Ukraine and later joined Leleka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble for the same tour. After returning to Saskatoon and completing her studies, Rachel rejoined Leleka, where she now performs and teaches. She has also worked professionally on a variety of independent and collaborative dance projects, with performances and creations connected to spaces such as The Refinery and Remai Modern.

Anna Romanova began her dance journey in Ukraine, growing up performing with the folk ensemble Bayda. She later entered a professional dance career with a theatre in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, where she participated in co-creative projects with the French theatre Alliance Française.

After moving to Canada, Anna danced with the Ukrainian dance ensembleZavirukha. One year ago, she relocated to Saskatoon and joined Leleka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, where she continues to share her experience, artistry, and love for Ukrainian dance. Anna’s dance moves draw pictures, transforming movement into living images.

Oksana Deineha is a qualified choreographer and ballet master who for many years served as the Artistic Director of the People’s Artistic Collective Dance Ensemble Nadiya in Ukraine.

Her every step is guided by inspiration, and each movement reveals an inner harmony and a profound desire for self-expression. For Oksana, dance is more than an art form — it is a way of living fully, with openness, joy, and an attentive heart. Through years of dedicated work, she has brought her dreams to life, becoming a true master of her craft and a lasting source of inspiration for those around her. Her artistic path is a story of passion, perseverance, and boundless love for dance.

Oleksii Novikov is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer whose perseverance and dedication have transformed childhood dreams into artistic mastery. His energy and sincerity inspire those around him, as he expresses joy, sadness, and inspiration through powerful movement.

For Oleksii, the stage is a meeting place with both himself and the audience, where each performance becomes a story told through expression and emotion. He was a member of the Nadiya Dance Ensemble in Ukraine and, since 2015, worked as an assistant director with the People’s Artistic Collective Nadiya Dance Ensemble. 

After moving to Saskatoon, Oleksii joined Leleka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, where he performs in various leading roles.