Our Dance Instructors
Zhenia Bahri
Zhenia’s love for dance was ignited when he first began dancing at the Palace of Pioneers in Kitsman, Ukraine. This early experience led him to search out a career in professional dance. Zhenia graduated from the Chernivtsi College of Cultural Arts in the Faculty of Dance. He graduated with honors with a diploma in Professional Dance and Dance Education. Soon after graduation, Zhenia was accepted to dance with the Bukovyna State Song and Dance Ensemble, with whom he toured over 12 countries. During his employment with this professional ensemble, he was the primary soloist and highest paid dancer.
In 1993 Zhenia came to Canada and taught Ukrainian dance with various groups. Reputation of his excellence spread, and Zhenia was invited to conduct workshops and adjudicate in many cities across Canada. Zhenia has conducted many regional workshops as well as male technical and solo workshops.
An alumnist and guest instructor of the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and School, Zhenia was asked to become the director in the fall of 2000. He has had very successful years with Volya, creating a brand new exciting repertoire. He has led Volya on tour to Salt Lake City, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Italy, California, Portugal, New York, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Azores Islands, France, and to the United Kingdom.
Zhenia's vast experience has afforded him the artistic insight of a professional dancer, the choreographic excellence of a respected director, and the passion of a man who has dedicated his life to the art of Ukrainian dance.
Lisa Halldorson
Lisa's dance journey began at a young age of 7 with the Alberta Zirka Performers in Calmar. Her dedication to dance has spanned over 20 years, during which she transitioned to dancing with the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. With Volya Ensemble Lisa was fortunate enough to travel and perform for audiences across Europe, North and South America. Over the past 20 plus years Lisa has been dedicated to training in the art of Ukrainian dance through various workshops led by esteemed Ukrainian dance choreographers.
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Lisa's love for Ukrainian Dance has been the driving force behind her desire to share her knowledge and skills with others. This passion led her to take on teaching roles with the Smokey Lake Holubka Dancers and later with the Myrnam & District Ukrainian Dance Group. Currently, she is co instructing with the Koperoush School of Ukrainian Dance, continuing to share her passion and expertise in Ukrainian dance with others.
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Outside of her role as a Ukrainian dance teacher, Lisa is also actively involved in the Ukrainian dance community through her two boys.
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Jessie Balan
Jessie Balan began Ukrainian dance classes in Radway, Alberta at the age of eight. Jessie continued to dance in the rural communities of Radway and Thorhild until the age of 14 when he also began taking Ukrainian dance classes in Edmonton. Dancing in both rural Alberta, as well as in Edmonton, provided Jessie with the opportunity to learn from many different instructors before joining the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in 2012.
Under the tutelage of Zhenia Bahri, he has traveled to the United Kingdom, Greece, Columbia, and Croatia on international tours with the ensemble. In addition to sharing his love of Ukrainian dance around the world with Volya at international festivals, Jessie was fortunate enough to be a part of the ensemble's 25th Anniversary celebrations on home soil, culminating in an unforgettable show at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. While Jessie enjoys serving Volya as a cast member for their performances, he has also served on the ensemble's Executive Board for the last four years.​
Odessa Bahri
Odessa Bahri began training in both ballet and Ukrainian dance at the age of 4. She was so passionate about dance that at the age of 8, she started to take lessons in other genres, including jazz, contemporary, lyrical and modern through Shelley's Dance Company. There she had the opportunity to attend workshops with many world-renowned choreographers, such as Stacey Tookey and Keltie Colleen. Odessa's passion for kids and their success led her to be a Co-Director of the For Kids by Kids Benefit Concert where she helped raise over $33,000.00 for the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation.
Odessa currently dances with the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and has been able to tour with the ensemble to Greece, Colombia, and Croatia. In addition to performing with Volya, she has sat on the executive for the past 3 years.
To expand on her dance experience, Odessa began assisting with the Volya School of Ukrainian Dance in 2015, and in 2017 she began teaching at the Thorhild Ukrainian Dance Club and has been a valued part of the Koperoush family for more than five years!
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