Kelsey Olijnyk

Kelsey’s passion and love for Ukrainian dance started at a young age. She grew up dancing throughout rural Alberta before joining Volya Studio.  After spending three years with Volya Studio, Kelsey joined the Nadiya Dance Ensemble where she danced for 10 years. In her quest to continue to grow as a dancer Kelsey joined the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in 2010.

Kelsey has been teaching Ukrainian dance throughout the province of Alberta since 2005. She has also been a guest choreographer for dance groups in Saskatchewan and Cleveland, Ohio. Kelsey is the Artistic Director of the Sopilka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Assistant Artistic Director of the Dunai Ukrainian Dancers and Kelsey has been on the teaching faculty at Shumka School of Dance since 2013.

Kelsey loves new challenges, one of which includes competing in Fitness with the Alberta Bodybuilding Association in 2011. She placed first in the Fitness Short category and received the best fitness routine award. She is also a former member of the Edmonton Crush dance team and the Edmonton Energy dance team where the styles of dance she performed included video dance, hip hop, jazz and disco.

Kelsey’s credentials include graduating from Victoria Performing Arts School, completing Tier 1 and 2 of the Shumka Syllabus for Ukrainian Dance, Ukrainian Dance Instructor Conference (Edmonton), Instructor Workshop Tour (Ukraine), and being a certified Zumba and group fitness instructor. Kelsey travels annually to Ukraine to continue developing as an instructor. Together with her husband, Kelsey owns a small family business, Costumes by Paul, designing and producing Ukrainian dance costumes.