2025 Year in Review: Artistic Growth, Cultural Preservation, Creative Horizons

A reflective look back at a year of creation, learning, and cultural connection — from stage to studio, and everywhere in between.

Every year holds its own rhythm, but 2025 felt like a full symphony — intricate, demanding, and deeply fulfilling. As part of my ongoing effort to archive my artistic life, I offer this Year in Review as a reflection on my choreography, teaching, cultural stewardship, performance work, and the influences that shaped my creative practice this year.

This post is also for anyone curious about the ways heritage, artistry, and community intersect — and how dance continues to guide, challenge, and transform me.

Choreography, Premieres & Professional Stagings

2025 Original Choreography

This year I premiered four original works rooted in Ukrainian heritage, literary inspiration, American history, and the choreographic legacies that shaped my artistic voice. Each piece brought a distinct emotional palette, movement vocabulary, and narrative arc — expanding my artistic range and deepening my relationship with storytelling through dance.

Though the works are diverse in theme, they share a through-line: an exploration of identity, memory, culture, and the human search for meaning.

ELIZABETH

A ballet in one act created to honor the legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on the 50th anniversary of her canonization, tracing her spiritual ascent and transformative presence. Through lyrical movement and radiant imagery, the choreography reflects her journey from struggle to sanctity.

Premiere: February 21, 2025 — Maryland Hall for the Performing Arts, Annapolis, MD

Performed by: Ballet Theatre of Maryland

Themes: Spirituality, transformation, grace

Choreographic focus: Emotional clarity, lyrical imagery

TALES FROM DYKANKA (Казки з Диканьки)

A tribute to Ukrainian Literary Artist Myhola Hohol (Nikolai Gogol), this playful choreographic miniature brings his beloved characters—Oksana, Hanna, and Kozak Taras Bulba—to life.

Premiere: June 14, 2025 — Patchtown Days Festival, Eckley Miners’ Village Museum Stage, Weatherly, PA

Performed by: Spirit of the Dance Ukrainian Folk Ballet

Themes: Folklore, humor, literary tradition

Choreographic focus: Character-driven storytelling

VASYL AVRAMENKO (Василь Авраменко)

Created for the 130th anniversary of Avramenko’s birth, this ballet in one act honors the Father of Ukrainian Dance in North America. Through expressive ensemble work and vibrant folk movement, the piece offers a culturally rich experience for audiences and students.

Premiere: July 5, 2025 — Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA (UAHF Dance Camp)

Performed by: UAHF Dance Camp Students and Counsellors

Themes: Heritage, legacy, cultural preservation

Choreographic focus: Folk vocabulary, expressive storytelling

FOREST SONG (Лісова Пісня)

A tribute to Ukrainian Literary Artist Lesia Ukrainka, this choroegraphic miniature explores the delicate world of Mavka and Lukash. It blends folklore, innocence, and quiet longing, reflecting the poetic essence of nature, spirit, and love.

Premiere: August 24, 2025 — 2025 Ukrainian Folk Festival, Tryzub Ukrainian American Sports Center, Horsham, PA

Performed by: Spirit of the Dance Ukrainian Folk Ballet

Themes: Nature, spirit, poetry

Choreographic focus: Romantic lyricism, fluidity, mythic atmosphere

Context Behind These Works

Each work this year emerged from a different artistic lineage:

• Elizabeth allowed me to explore resilience, compassion, and faith through the life of the first U.S.-born Catholic saint.

• My tribute to Gogol revealed the whimsical and psychologically rich worlds of his storytelling.

• The Avramenko ballet celebrated lineage, influence, and the generational power of cultural preservation.

• Lesia Ukrainka’s visionary writing inspired a work centered on myth, longing, and the inner life of the soul.

Creating across these literary and historical landscapes challenged me to shift between research, character work, and movement design. Each piece asked something new of me — and strengthened my artistic voice.

Reflection: Choreography projects this year taught me that inspiration can come from unexpected intersections — where heritage meets imagination, where literature meets movement, where history meets the present body. Each work asked something new of me, and in meeting those challenges, I feel my artistic voice strengthening and widening.

Staging the Works of Pavlo Virsky - 120th Anniversary Tribute

Pavlo Virsky—pioneer of Ukrainian folk-stage dance—has shaped not only how Ukrainian dance is seen worldwide, but also the entire course of my own artistic journey. His choreography blends authentic folk tradition with theatrical expression, creating works that are both deeply rooted and beautifully elevated.

Virsky’s dances were my earliest introduction to movement. When I was two, my grandfather showed me a video of the Virsky Ensemble and I was mesmerized—that moment became the spark that set the arc of my life in motion.

As a tribute honoring his legacy on his 120th anniversary in 2025, I sought to stage select Virsky choreographies to bring his work to new dancers and audiences.

In July, along with premiering VASYL AVRAMENKO at the UAHF Dance Camp, I also staged Virsky’s WE ARE FROM UKRAINE (Ми з України).

Teaching and staging heritage works requires a delicate balance: honoring authenticity while adapting choreography for different ages, skill levels, and performance contexts. It is not simply recreating steps; it’s interpreting cultural memory through a new generation of bodies.

At Ballet Theatre of Maryland, in addition to priemiering ELIZABETH in Febuary, 2025, I also staged three iconic pieces by Pavlo Virsky honoring his 120th anniversary.  The Ballet Theatre of Maryland included these tributes in mixed repertoire programs presented in September, 2025 at the historic Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, MD and October, 2025 the Mark Casio Vineyards, Stevensville, MD.

PLESKACH (Плескач)

The title of this dance, “Pleskach,” is derived from the verb “pleskaty” which means “to clap.” This dance depicts a group of village maidens who enjoy a delightful game of “paddy-cake.” True to Virsky’s unique choreographic style, he imbues his female dancers’ movement with quickness and lyricism, always emanating an impression of graciousness and open heartedness.

PODOLYANOCHKA (Подоляночка)

In staging this beautiful piece, depicting the courting traditions of young people, I have adapted it to reflect Ivana Kupala, a major folk holiday among Eastern Slavs.

Young ladies, full of hope and anticipation, weave flowered wreaths and set them adrift in the river with a prayer that Providence carries their wreath to be discovered by the young man they are destined to marry.

WE ARE FROM UKRAINE (Ми з України)

This iconic piece portrays a colorful, multi-regional welcome dance culminating in the presentation of Bread and Salt, an expression of Hospitality, Goodwill and Friendship dating back to ancient times. In this staging, I have scaled it for a smaller ensemble.

Why This Work Matters

Ukrainian folk-stage dance carries history, regional identity, symbolism, and community pride. Preserving these traditions — especially during a time when Ukrainian culture faces enormous global attention and political pressure — felt particularly urgent and meaningful.

Guiding the dancers through character stylization and regional footwork reminded me how much knowledge lives in these forms — and how vital it is to pass them on with care.

Reflection: Preservation is active work. Every rehearsal, costume fitting, stylized gesture, and musical phrasing is part of a centuries-long continuum. Sharing these traditions with new dancers this year, both within and outside of the diaspora, deepened my gratitude and my sense of responsibility.

Restaging Macbeth – Maryland Renaissance Festival

I was honored to restage my original work from 2024, MACBETH—created with support from the Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant from the Howard County Arts Council—for Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s Labor Day weekend performances at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, allowing new casts to fully engage with its dramatic narrative.

Ukrainian Cultural Events & Festivals

Pennsylvania Premieres

This year, three of my four original works were premiered in Pennsylvania, connecting audiences to Ukrainian heritage and folklore:

Vasyl Avramenko

UAHF Dance Camp, Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA

Tales from Dykanka

Patchtown Days, Eckley Miners' Village, Weatherly, PA

Forest Song

2025 Ukrainian Folk Festival, Tryzub Ukrainian American Sports Center, Horsham, PA

Other Performance Highlights:

Throughout the season, I performed with both my own ensemble, Дух Танцю – Spirit of the Dance Ukrainian Folk Ballet (Maryland), and the Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble (Lehighton, PA).

For nearly four decades, Kazka has been a cultural cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region, preserving the traditions brought to America by early Ukrainian immigrants in the 1870s. Their repertoire carries a strong Carpathian character—Hutsul, Boyko, Lemko, and Transcarpathian dances—while also spanning the full geographic and stylistic breadth of Ukraine, from powerful Hopaks to lyrical Central Ukrainian works and modern commemorative pieces.

As Artistic Director and Choreographer of Spirit of the Dance, my focus has been on creating works that tell Ukraine’s story through dance—its struggles, triumphs, identity, and unbreakable spirit—blending traditional movement with theatrical storytelling.

Performing with both ensembles during the same season—and at times within the same festival—feels especially significant: a bridge between a storied legacy and a living, evolving Ukrainian dance tradition.

Lehighton Ukrainian Festival

Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA,

August, 2025

Baltimore Ukrainian Festival

St Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD, September, 2025

Ukrainian Film Screening: Faith Under Siege

FPX Events, Baltimore, MD, October, 2025

Cameos & Student Performances

Ballet theatre of Maryland's Swan Lake

In April, I was delighted to make a cameo as the Royal Advisor in Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s production of Swan Lake.

It is always such a joy to take the stage with this talented company, sharing in the artistry, energy, and magic that make their performances so special.

Misako Ballet Summer Character Dance Class

Students from my Misako Ballet Summer Character Dance Class enjoyed several performance opportunities beyond their in studio capstone to showcase their skills:

Lehighton Ukrainian Festival - Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA

August, 2025

Baltimore Ukrainian Festival - St Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baltimore, MD, September, 2025

Multi-Cultural Festival - St. Matthew Orthodox Church, Columbia, MD,

October, 2025

Cameo Performances

Puttin’ on the Ritz

Spring Showcase - Carroll County Dance Center and Conservatory Spring Showcase

Memory of Summer, Voyager

Columbia Festival of the Arts- Carroll County Dance Center and Conservatory Spring Showcase

Memory of Summer

Japan Day - Misako Ballet Studio

The Nutcracker - Carroll County Dance Center & Ballet Conservatory

The 2025 holiday season saw a warm and energized staging of The Nutcracker by the Carroll County Dance Center & Ballet Conservatory. This production showcased the dedication, energy, and musicality of the students, supported by faculty and guest artists who helped shape a warm and polished performance.

I appeared in cameo roles as Clara’s Father in the Party Scene, the Snow Scene with guest artist Sara Bradna, and Trepak with instructor Lily Bott. The season also featured community-centered events such as Breakfast with Clara and the Nutcracker Tea, along with outreach mini-performances at the Athelas Institute in Columbia and St. John Catholic School’s Christmas Bazaar. It concluded with CCDC’s full production of The Nutcracker at the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center in Hanover, PA.

Teaching & Professional Development

MSAC Folk Life Apprenticeship Grant

In July, 2025, Renee Jaranson and I were awarded a Folk Life Apprenticeship Grant for Ukrainian Folk Stage Dance by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). I will be mentoring Renee in, and together we will be documenting, barre, center work, and regional etudes for cultural of the first two levels of my 8-year Ukrainian Folk Stage Dance curriculum. Our work will continue into the summer of 2026.

International Conference Presentation – Ukraine

In November, 2025, I was invited to present at the III International Scientific and Practical Seminar organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the НУФВСУ/National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport. My presentation covered:

• Bridging diaspora and classical dance

• Terminology adaptation across Vaganova, Cecchetti, RAD, ABT

• Demonstration, music, and costume as teaching tools

Teaching Dance

In 2025, I continued teaching across both classical ballet schools and community programs, sharing ballet, character, and Ukrainian folk-stage dance with students of all ages. From year-round studio classes to annual festivals and intensives, my teaching work remained a meaningful way to nurture the next generation of dancers.

Classical Ballet Schools

Carroll County Dance Center and Ballet Conservatory (CCDC) I teach Pre-Professional Ballet, the Boys’ Class, and led Character Dance workshops that helped broaden students’ stylistic versatility.

Misako Ballet Studio I teach character workshops, sharing folk-based movement principles with young dancers and strengthening their musicality, expression, and cultural awareness.

Intensives and Master Classes

UAHF Dance Camp

I am the Choreographer and Principal Instructor for this weeklong Ukrainian dance intensive held each July in Northeastern Pennsylvania and supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The camp serves nearly 100 dancers, ages 7 through adult and culminates in a capstone performance concert showcasing our work. The 2025 capstone included the premiere of VASYL AVRAMENKO and Pavlo Virsky Tribute.

Baltimore County Public Schools Dance Festival 

This three-day event held in March, brings together BCPS dance students from across the county. I provided masterclasses in Ukrainian Dance and Folk-Stage Dance for nearly 70 students, introducing them to foundational movement vocabulary and cultural context.

Pilates Instruction

In February, I began teaching full-time with Seaglass Fitness at the Club Pilates studios in Crofton, Olney, and Columbia, leading 30 classes each week. It has been an incredible joy to guide clients toward consistency, strength, and confidence—and to celebrate with more than 30 students under my instruction reaching major milestones of 100, 250, and even 500 classes. Witnessing their growth and dedication has been one of the true highlights of my year.

Teaching Philosophy in 2025

Whether in a dance studio or a Pilates studio, teaching for me is about connection — meeting people exactly where they are, honoring their goals, and helping them build strength, confidence, discipline, and joy.

Seeing students progress, overcome challenges, and find pride in their accomplishment is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

Reflection:Teaching keeps me honest. It demands clarity, empathy, and humility. It also reminds me daily that artistry isn’t only expressed on a stage — it’s expressed in how we guide and support others.

Personal Enrichment & Creative Nourishment

2025 also offered opportunities to engage with art as a learner and observer — which, for me, is essential creative fuel.

I visited museums, attended performances, studied new works, and sought inspiration from other disciplines. These encounters sharpened my sense of form, character, composition, and storytelling.

Museum visits: Rossetti’s Found, Delaware Art Museum

Performances attended: Stuttgart Ballet (Onegin), Cincinnati Ballet (The Nutcracker),  Durham Performing Arts Center (2025 North American Tour of The Wiz),  World Ballet Company (Great Gatsby), Distinguished Strings with Pianist Theodora Adzharova, Ballet Theatre of Maryland (Giselle, Annapolitan Nutcracker), Players on Air (Clue, Company), Montgomery College (Spring Concert) 

Blog writing: Creation of Elizabeth, 5-part series on Prokofiev’s Cinderella, reflections on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker

Virtual C.S. Lewis Book Club: Led meaningful conversations and shared reflection with global membership while journeying through The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Personal Retreat: A visit to Sedona, AZ while spending time with my artistic mentor - Sedona has become the most beautiful outdoor destination I’ve ever experienced, opening my heart from the moment I arrived. Its peace and its light stay with me.

Influences Beyond the Studio

• Museums renewed my attention to detail, line, and historical context.

• Live performances reinvigorated my appreciation for ensemble cohesion and the power of staging.

• Books and literature deepened my narrative thinking and expanded the emotional worlds I draw from.

Reflection:The quiet spaces — gallery rooms, theater seats, pages of a book — often gave me as much insight as the most intense choreographic sessions. Inspiration is everywhere if you stay curious.

Challenges & Lessons of 2025

While the year was rich in accomplishments, it also brought challenges: balancing overlapping schedules, decisions on where to invest and divest effort, managing the demands of grant-related work, keeping creative energy high during long teaching weeks, and navigating logistical hurdles around rehearsals and staging.

Yet these obstacles sharpened my discipline and clarified my priorities. They taught me to simplify when needed, to ask for support, and to trust that growth often happens in moments of friction. They also reminded me that the artist’s path is not linear — it is cyclical, layered, and continually evolving.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As I enter 2026, I carry both gratitude and momentum. I look forward to creating new work, deepening my preservation efforts, expanding my teaching, and building connections with students, audiences, and communities.

If you’re interested in collaborating, hosting a workshop, commissioning choreography, or supporting cultural preservation projects, I’d love to connect.

Thank you for being part of this journey — whether by watching a performance, taking a class, reading this post, or simply cheering from afar.Here’s to another year of curiosity, creativity, community, and art.