Our History

Originally founded in November 1976 by Luba Eshenko, a Ukrainian Shumka dancer, who began instructing a small group of ten dancers on a trial basis. The course was sponsored by the Multicultural Center and Stony Plain Recreation Department and soon became known as the Stony Plain Ukrainian Dancers. They performed at several schools, a nursing home, the Farmers' Day Parade, and the Multicultural Center. Within two years, the club grew to 41 dancers. Luba's brother, Toby Iszcenko, a parent and former Shumka dancer, managed the group while Luba taught alongside Rodney Klimchuk, a fellow Shumka dancer. In the fall of 1980, the group continued on under the instructional guidance of Rodney Klimchuk and Sandy Topechko.

1981–1983: Cheremosh dancers Leanne Koziak and Doyle Marko began instructing in 1981, eventually leaving in 1983 to travel Europe and pursue a dream of creating Canada's first professional folkdance ensemble. That dream was realized upon their return to Canada with the creation of the Vinok Folkdance Ensemble in 1992, which was subsequently renamed Vinok Worldance.

1983: With an enrollment of 33 dancers, Leanne's sister Debbie Koziak took over the instruction along with fellow Cheremosh dancer Dave Filipchuk. It was during this year that the club became a registered society and changed its name to the current Parkland Ukrainian Dancers Society (PUDS). At this time, the club was divided into three groups: beginners, intermediates, and seniors. Dave left after two years to devote full time to his engineering career.

1985: Another fellow Cheremosh dancer, Don Zwarych, joined PUDS as the male instructor.

1988–1990: Increasing enrollment necessitated regrouping into five groups. It was then that Ukrainian names were substituted for the levels of each group, and they became known as:

• Ditochku (little children), 
• Veseli (happy),
• Razom (together),
• Sveetilo (star or light),
• and Bliskavka (lightning or fireball).

Don taught at Parkland for five years. In 1990, he left to teach English in Japan.

1990–1998: In the fall of 1990, Debbie's husband, Chris, also a Cheremosh dancer and instructor teaching with Alberta Ukrainian Zirka Performers, became the male Artistic Director. Increased enrollment in 1996 necessitated the formation of a sixth group, named Zeleney (green) for the green sharyvary that all the groups wore. 1998 brought another influx in registration, and a seventh group was added. This was an all-girls group named Kvitochku (flowers). In future years, this group will be added to or removed from the program, depending on enrollment.

2008–2011: Declining enrollment and multiple requests prompted the creation of an adult group. Alumni, dancers from other groups, and those with absolutely no experience all expressed interest in joining the group. To everyone's surprise, 25 dancers gathered for the first day of instruction. The adult group quickly progressed and began competing and performing that first year. A second adult group was started two years later, allowing for a choice between a competitive and a recreational group. This lasted only one year, and in 2011, the remaining competitive group was named Radist (joy).

PUDS today

Currently, our club has groups ranging in age from 4 years to adults. Practices take place in Spruce Grove (Pioneer Center), Alberta, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (dancers attend once per week for 45–90 minutes, depending on age group). Our dance season begins in September and concludes with our Year-End Recital in May. Classes run through the full season — we do not offer half-year or month-to-month options. All of our groups are competitive.

Our dancers learn and perform dances representing 6 regions of Ukraine:

• Poltava
• Hutsul’schyna
• Bukovyna
• Zakarpattia
• Podillian
• Volyn

Support PUDS

If you would like to donate an item or help us find donations for our Malanka or Year-End Recital, you can use our Donation Request Letter: