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Heidi Armstrong
Instructor/ Choreographer

Heidi Armstrong began dancing at five years old with the 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. Under the direction of Serhij Koroluik, she had the opportunity to perform with PFE at events around Saskatoon and travelled with them in 2012 to perform on a Caribbean Cruise ship. In 2011, she became a member of the Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein, a local German folkdance group.

 

She studied a year abroad in Brisbane, Australia in 2012 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 Sydney. 

 

Heidi has been an instructor with Boyan Ukrainian Dance Association since 2013. She has attended dance instructor workshops in Saskatchewan and Alberta with opportunities to learn from and work with many instructors and choreographers. 

 

Heidi holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of Saskatchewan. She works at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon as a physical therapist. Heidi enjoys sharing her passion for Ukrainian dance and culture with her dancers!

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Instructor
Olivia Graf

Olivia started Ukrainian dancing when she was 8 years old. Olivia loves working with the kids she instructs and sharing her love of the culture with them. She is a mentor to her two younger sisters who have followed in her footsteps and is proud of their accomplishments, as she is all of the Malanka Dancers. Away from the studio, Olivia works part time at a dog kennel, playing with the fur babies in her care, another love of hers. Olivia is very excited to be part of the Malanka dancers this season!

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Teah McNernie
Instructor

Teah has been dancing for 14 years for the Malanka dancers and assistant instructed many years prior to starting her post secondary schooling. She has attended the University of Saskatchewan and now continues at Lakeland College locally in town. Teah is in the progress of completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and becoming a registered nurse. Teah is excited to return to the club as an instructor having moved up from her dancer title and eager to see all the new and returning faces!

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