Our Faculty

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Jillian Teterenko is a Winnipeg based architect, dancer and choreographer. She trained at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in the Ballet Intensive Training Program and has completed her ballet examinations Grades 1-6, Intermediate and Advanced 1 with The Cecchetti Society of Canada. Her Ukrainian dance education was based out of Rozmai Ukrainian Dance School where she grew through the school eventually becoming an active senior member and Principal dancer of The Rozmai Ukrainian Dance Company. Jillian has performed across Canada, The United States and Europe, participating in numerous festivals, workshops and choreography intensive programs. She has taught at all levels within Rozmai Ukrainian Dance School and has acted on behalf of the artistic director in company rehearsals, workshops, performances and on tour. 

Jillian holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Master of Architecture from The University of Manitoba. She is a licensed architect in the province of Manitoba. 

Jillian believes her passion for Ukrainian dancing and architecture are linked as both art forms are expressed through movement in space. It is of importance to Jillian that Ukrainian arts, dance and culture are preserved, and she is excited to encourage students in their technique and love of Ukrainian dance at Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School.

Outside of Ukrainian dancing she is a diligent youth leader for a local youth group and a loyal volunteer within the arts and church community. She is a lover of knitting, the outdoors, spending time with family, making perogies, cats and tea.

Markian Duplak is a Winnipeg-born Ukrainian and has danced his entire life. Markian’s Ukrainian

dance education and experiences are extensive. Since the age of 4, Markian grew up in the Rozmai

Ukrainian Dance School. After making it into the Senior ensemble at the age of 16 and being an active member for 2 years. It was with Rozmai that Markian first had the opportunity to travel to his beloved homeland roots of Ukraine. He later auditioned for Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble where he was an active Principal Dancer for 3 years. With Rusalka he toured to Ukraine, New York (Soyuzivka Ukrainian Festival) and attended a plethora of workshops and performed at many International Dance Festivals throughout his late teens and early twenties. Later, Markian moved to Saskatoon and joined PFE (Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble), and under the direction of Serhij Koroliuk, was a Principal Dancer for 3 years. Markian toured with PFE to Eastern Europe and saw the tour end in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Markian moved to Kyiv Ukraine in 2017 to pursue his dream of dancing with Virsky National Dance

Company of Ukraine. Markian successfully completed Virsky Studio (a 2-year intensive program

meant to groom and prepare dancers for the ensemble). Markian arrived in Kyiv for the beginning of

year 2 of Virsky studio and every day throughout the rest of the program’s tenure, Markian worked

fiercely to catch up. He learned the entirety of the Virsky repertoire, learned to dance many different

styles of dance as well as from different nations around the world, and trained intensively to improve on his classical dance in the form of highly advanced ballet. After an official audition, he was taken into the Virsky ensemble towards the end of his second year of the studio program and performed with the ensemble twice before officially joining the group as a full time dancer, putting him on a very short list of not only Canadians to accomplish this feat, but any non-Ukrainian citizen or foreigner. While with the ensemble, Markian’s most memorable performance was in Kyiv’s Palace of Ukraine Theatre on August 24th , 2019 for Ukrainian Independence Day as well as at the Taras Shevchenko Opera House in Kyiv.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Markian has actively been travelling to Ukraine to volunteer for NGO’s an in the meantime, re-connecting with his old friends including one of his

dearest friends Andriy Demeshchuk whom is currently the Artistic Director of Kalyna State Folk

Ensemble in Kyiv. Markian recently pulled his old boots out of the closet after a nearly 7 year lay off

and was a guest performer with Kalyna in their “Footsteps of Dovbush” concert program.

In life, Markian is a graduate of the Business Administration program from Red River College and

holds a major in Marketing.

Markian’s passion for Ukrainian dance is deeply rooted and the connections he has made during his

time in Ukraine are truly invaluable. It is also deeply important to Markian that Ukrainian dance & culture is not only preserved in Canada, but that it evolves in tandem with the way it is evolving in

Ukraine.

Outside of dance and his professional career, Markian enjoys being at the lake with his family and

doing just about anything in nature.

Ben Chapman will be returning to Sopilka for another year to instruct the Koneky, Volya, and Senior Boys Akademiya classes. 

Ben has been doing Ukrainian dance for 15 years, including 13 years at Sopilka and also spent 7 training ballet and other disciplines at the RWB. On top of teaching at Sopilka he is a member of Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and an instructor at Zavirukha dance school where he continues to work on improving his abilities as a dancer and as a teacher.

 Outside of dance Ben is in his fourth year in the faculty of agriculture at the University of Manitoba, and enjoys watching motorsport and drawing or painting in his free time.  

MacKenzie Drul has been part of the Sopilka Artistic Team for six years.  This year, she is an instructor in the Maky and Kvitky classes, and she is thrilled to celebrate Sopilka's 55th Anniversary during the 2025-2026 season. 

MacKenzie loves to dance and is passionate about her Ukrainian heritage. She enjoys working with the dancers, helping them express their love for Ukrainian culture though dance.  

In the summer of 2024, MacKenzie traveled to Croatia with Sopilka for the "Sopilka 2024 Croatia Tour," and she is set to journey to Brazil in the summer of 2026 for the "Sopilka 55th Anniversary Brazil Tour."  Currently, she performs with Sopilka's Spadok Ensemble.

With 14 years of dance experience at Sopilka, MacKenzie continues to showcase her talent with the Spadok Performing Ensemble. Beyond her dedication to dance, she works full-time as an Estate Administrator for a Licensed Insolvency Trustee while pursuing her studies in the medical field.

This is Lealya’s third year as part of Sopilka's Artistic Team, and first year as a Student Instructor.  For the past two years Lealya was a class assistant.  This year Lealya is excited to be instructing in the Junior Girls Akademiya class with Kristina Frykas.

Lealya has been Ukrainian dancing for the past 14 years, of which the past five years has been with Sopilka.  Lealya is currently dancing Sopilka's Spadok Performing Ensemble.  

Lealya loves to learn about the different regions and how they correspond to different dances as well, she is passionate about  teaching  dancers to learn more about their Ukrainian heritage and culture through dance. Lealya is excited to travel to Brazil summer 2026 along with many other Sopilka dancer's for the Sopilka 55th Anniversary International Dance Tour.

Outside of dance, Lealya is attending post secondary school for a career in education.  

 Oksana Gerelus is a grade 12 French Immersion student at Oak Park High School. Oksana has been dancing at Sopilka for 12 years and currently dances in the Spadok Ensemble. She has been a Class Assistant Sopilka for the past two years in the Persheyy Krok and Leleky classes. 

This year Oksana will be Student Teaching with Abby Sigurdson, under the direction of Kristina Frykas, for the Sonechky class this year. 

Oksana loves to dance and is excited to help young dancers further their talent and passion for Ukrainian dance. 

 Wynn has been dancing with Sopilka for 11 years and is excited to share her passion for Ukrainian dance with the Maky class this year. Outside of Sopilka, she is a student at Kazka Dance Collective, where she also assists Jazz and Ballet classes, and has helped at summer camps for the past three years.  Wynn is currently dancing with Sopilka's Spadok Ensemble.

Wynn has learnt from choreographers and dance educators from across Canada through attending workshops, Kazka’s dance summer intensive, and Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Camp. In 2024, she was awarded Best Overall Duet, alongside Abby Sigurdson, at the Brandon Troyanda Festival and named Most Promising Female Soloist at the Manitoba Ukrainian Dance Festival in 2025.

Wynn is also apart of Piper Pride Productions, a musical theatre company that is currently working on their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, that will hit the stage in late November.

Abby is a grade 11 student, who has been dancing with Sopilka for 11 years. She enjoys various other styles of dance at Kazka Dance Collective, where she has danced for the past six years. This past year Abby was a class assistant through Sopilka and has previously assisted with classes and summer camps at Kazka. Currently, she dances with Sopilka in the Spadok Ensemble.  

Abby has had the opportunity to work with many different Ukrainian Dance Choreographers at various workshops and through Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Camp, as well as Kazka Dance Summer Intensive. Abby was awarded Best Overall Duet in 2024 at the Brandon Troyanda Festival, with her partner Wynn Criggar, and was awarded Top Solo Central Ukraine, 13 years and over, in 2025 at the PFE Festival in Saskatoon. Abby also had the opportunity to take part in the 2024 Sopilka Croatia Tour and is excited to be a part of the 2026 Brazil Tour this upcoming summer.  

Outside of dance, Abby works part time as a swimming instructor. Abby enjoys teaching and working with children and is looking forward to student teaching with Oksana Gerelus for the Sonechky class. Abby is excited to be able to share her love and passion for Ukrainian dance and culture. 

Various times during the year, Sopilka will invite guest instructors into a class or hold workshops to help the student hone their skills and love for Ukrainian dance.