Growing Beside You

Danced by Valentyna Matyushenko and Marichka Matyushenko

Choreographed by Valentyna Matyushenko

Choreographer’s Statement:

I am beyond happy to perform in this Mothers and Daughters Dancing event with my daughter — a dream come true. Dancing has been a part of my life since my very first steps and opening my dance school in Canada allowed me to follow my dream.  A single parent and immigrant woman, I was determined to share my love for Ukraine and dance with my daughter and her friends.

Now my dance school has students aged 2 to 76. My daughter has danced with me from day one of Leleka Ukrainian dance ensemble and now she is one of the leading instructors of the school sharing the stage with her is an incredible gift.

After recovering from a serious injury, I am grateful for every step, jump, and movement, and today I am honored to dance alongside my best partner — my daughter—in a performance that speaks to connection, heritage, and the evolving artistic voice passed from mother to daughter through dance.

Thank you to Dance Saskatchewan and On Cue Performance Hub for this special opportunity.

  • Valentyna Matyushenko

    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

    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.