DANCE FACULTY Message from the Dance Faculty Welcome to the Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance! Let us take you on an exciting tour… the Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance is a wonderful place where friends are made and dance dreams are realized. Since 1962, Yavir School has provided its dancers and audience with an experience charged with excitement and passion. This tradition continues with Yavir School's certified training methods and creative choreography, allowing the dancers to maximize their enjoyment during rehearsals and performances. We believe that building self-esteem and friendship are essential elements of a dancer's progress and we are committed to each individual's long-term safety and success that result from step-by-step skill development. Ukrainian dance is a gift of tradition and heritage that we share with each other and with the world. As we represent our heritage, our wonderful community, parents, parent committee, volunteers and instructors are here to guide you in your success. Dance Faculty 2008/9 Dance Season Krista Samborsky Vibrant, adventurous and dedicated Krista’s love for dance began when she started attending Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance at the young age of four. Since then her passion has grown for all forms of dance. Outside of Yavir Krista has performed both jazz and lyrical dancing with St. Marcellus Community School. She represented the school at the Kiwanis Dance Festival and was awarded first place for three consecutive years. In a Dance Competition Showcase, Krista performed her much beloved lyrical solo, Music of the Night. Krista also attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts where is studied modern dance and ballet in greater detail. She participated in choreographic workshops and their year end production of Madame Butterfly. Krista continues to dance with the Yavir senior performing ensemble. She has also traveled to Ukraine twice with Yavir on the school’s 1999 and 2002 dance tours. Other performances with Yavir include participating eight times in the annual Youth Festival of Ukrainian Dance at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre, the Community Folk arts Council Nations Builder Benefit Concert, Assembly Hall Opening, Caravan, and representing Yavir at Father Andrij Figol’s ordination in Montreal. Krista’s stage presence is remarkable. She is truly a passionate artist who captures her audience with her heart and embraces them with her smile. Krista is currently enrolled in York University’s Fine Arts Dance program and is completing a double major in psychology. She has technique classes in Russian, British Royal Academy and Italian Cecchetti ballet and attends classes in Graham and Limón modern technique. It is with great pleasure and privilege that Krista gets to study under some of Toronto’s best dancers and choreographers like Carol Anderson, Karen Bowes-Sewell, Donna Krasnow, Megan Andrews, Claire Wootten, and Terrill Maguire. Along with studying the history of dance and the art of putting on a production, Krista takes improvisation and conditioning classes for dancers. Krista’s long term goals are to study dance/movement therapy and complete her masters degree in dance therapy. Krista incorporates her extensive knowledge of dance into every one of the classes she teaches. She offers a challenging, interesting, and fast paced class for students aged 9-14. Krista loves to teach dance, especially Ukrainian dancing in the very dance school where she first learned to dance. “Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul’s weather to all who can read it.” Martha Graham Kathy Adamowich Experience and skill Kathy Adamowich has over 25 years' of Ukrainian dance experience at Yavir under the direction of various choreographers from Ontario, Western Canada and Ukraine. She also appeared professionally with the Kosari Ensemble at the Ukrainian Caravan Restaurant for three years. As a teacher for six years at the Tyrsa School of Ukrainian Dance in Burlington, she instructed children ages 4-17. She also spent three years teaching dancers from 4-24 at the Barvinok School of Ukrainian Dance in Mississauga. With experience in ballet and jazz from studios such as the Sean Boutillier Academy of Dance, the Ontario School of Ballet and Related Arts, Ryerson Polytechnical University, Humber College and the Russian Academy of Dance, Kathy brings diverse dance experience and skill to her students. Kathy returned to the Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance in 2004 as a senior instructor where cumulatively, she has taught for over 10 years. She's looking forward to another great year of dance with Yavir. Larissa Samborsky Enthusiastic, warm and cheerful Since the age of four Larissa has been a devoted dancer at the Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance. Larissa is entering her 20th year of dancing at Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance. Over those years Larissa’s passion and love for Ukrainian dance has flourished. As a member of the Dnipro Dance Ensemble, Larissa traveled to Ukraine for their 1999 dance tour. She took part in the International Festival of Folklore in Lachine, Quebec in the summer of 2000. In 2001 Larissa traveled with Dnipro to Zacatecas, Mexico to take part in the Sixth International Festival of Folklore. Throughout Larissa’s dance career she has performed at every Youth Festival of Ukrainian Dance. Larissa has performed for countless audiences, local and international. She performed for the International Olympic Committee, when Toronto was bidding for the 2008 Summer Games. Larissa’s enthusiasm is seen at every performance. Larissa continues to be a responsible, capable and enthusiastic member of Yavir Dance Ensemble. She has graduated for the University of Guelph Humber, with a Degree in Applied Health Sciences and a Diploma in Early Childhood. Her knowledge of child development enables her to engage the children in the physical activities of Ukrainian dance at the appropriate skill level. Larissa is a warm, genuine, friendly person which has made her an ideal instructor for our beginners and young dancers. Her kind and friendly manner towards the youngest dancers has made them feel comfortable in the school environment and enjoy dancing. At the same time, her strong technical skills and energy have allowed her to teach girls at the senior level. Her passion for dance is reflected in her teaching and is an inspiration for her students. Larissa is a dedicated, responsible and reliable instructor. These qualities have made Larissa one of the School’s most valuable senior instructors. And you can always count on Larissa for a smile. Natalia Mnich A lifelong passion Dancing at Yavir for the past 16 years, and instructing for the last five, have allowed Natalia Mnich to realize some of her dreams. A student at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto for a BSc in Biology and Chemistry, Natalia dreams of teaching young students about the biological and chemical wonders of the world. She sees her work with children in dance related to her future work. This educational journey began at Yavir in 2003, when began training as a Ukrainian dance instructor. This experience of interacting with young dancers, through fun and educational practices, coupled with Natalia’s dedication and her knowledge of Ukrainian culture, dance and ballet essentials, has helped her become the skillful senior instructor she is today. When not dancing as a senior Yavir ensemble member, or instructing children aged 9-13 at Yavir, Natalia enjoys ballroom dancing at Ukrainian "zabavas" and singing Ukrainian "narodni" songs with friends and family. Natalia enjoys travelling and learning more about Ukrainian culture from different Ukrainian communities worldwide. She toured Ukraine with Yavir as a member of the ensemble Trembita in the summer of 2002 where she performed benefit concerts for the Children of Chernobyl and took part in many vigorous Ukrainian dance workshops led by professional Ukrainian dancers and choreographers. Natalia has also had many chances to perform throughout Canada and the U.S. Natalia cannot imagine her life without Ukrainian dance. It has allowed her to learn and understand her capabilities, and as she matures, she truly feels for those who are not able to show their feelings through, and passion for, Ukrainian dance. For the young dancers who are full of dreams awaiting to come true, Natalia quotes: "We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers - we create the dreams." Yavir Instructors The Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance is made up of instructors with deep knowledge and experience in both Ukrainian dance as well as other dance forms. Each is following the Shumka Syllabus for Ukrainian Dance (SSUD), and has attended various dance workshops throughout North America. The instructors challenge their students to achieve a high standard of technical skills, understand the role of dance within Ukrainian culture, and develop long-lasting relationships based on the mutual love of dance. If you're interested in joining the Yavir team, please forward your resume and contact information to info@yavir.ca or call us at 416-243-3072. 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