Dean Mackedenski, Artistic Director



Dean Mackedenski - Artistic Director
Photo by Mark Orenstein
Courtesy of deJourdan's Photographics



Dean bega n his journey of Ukrainian dance in rural Manitoba with the Oakburn Teren and Russell Yachminka dancers.  He studied classical and character ballet at the Wade Dance Centre.  Dean began instructing when he created the Vinok Ukrainian Dance Group in his hometown of Rossburn in 2001. 

Having moved to Alberta in 2005, Dean is an alumnus of both, the Lethbridge Troyanda Ukrainian Dancers and Calgary’s Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.  Dean joined Tryzub 2006 and continues to be actively involved in this dance organization

In addition to teaching Ukrainian dance workshops across western Cananda, Dean has also done musical theatre choreography with the Front Row Centre Players, for their productions of Fiddler on the Roof & Chess, earning him a Calgary Theatre choreography award in 2009.

Dean’s performances include: dancing with Canada’s National Riding & Dancing Cossacks of Dauphin for Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in 2004, touring in New York and Las Vegas with the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in 2008, and participating in Razom: A Fusion of Ukrainian Dance in 2009 alongside 100 other performers from Ukrainian dance groups of Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.

Dean has instructed with the Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance since 2007 and, since 2010, has been serving as their current School Director, guiding and planning the future direction of Tryuzb School. 

Dean is also a Resident Artist of the Epcor Centre for Performing Arts in Calgary and provides Ukrainian cultural workshops to people of all ages wanting to discover a love for Ukrainian dance.

Since 2009, Dean has been the Artistic Director for the Ensemble of the Lethbridge Troyanda Ukrainian Dancers.  While expanding the horizons of the Ensemble, Dean’s leadership has resulted in joint collaborations with the University of Lethbridge Fine Arts Department, the Calgary Ukrainian Festival, and most recently, the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra & Vox Musicia in 2013 where seven new choreographic creations were premiered.

Dean’s dynamic style of choreography combines traditional Ukrainian steps with influences from other dance forms creating a contemporary fusion that focuses on energy & passion from his dancers.