Zabutnyy Dance Company
For more than a decade, Zabutnyy Dance Company (ZDC) has been one of Saskatchewan’s most dynamic and culturally rich Ukrainian dance schools. Founded in 2009 under the artistic direction of Serhiy and Liana Zabutnyy, the company continues to uphold a deep legacy of professional artistry. Serhiy and Liana joined the renowned Ukrainian ensemble Nadzbruchanka in 1989, dancing professionally for 14 years before Serhiy became the ensemble’s artistic director in the late 1990s. Several of his works—such as Dubotanets and Bukovynian—remain in performance by the ensemble today, attesting to his lasting influence in the field of Ukrainian dance.
Since establishing ZDC in Canada, the Zabutnyys have built an acclaimed dance program now home to nearly 150 dancers, ranging from preschoolers to adults over 60. Students study traditional and regional Ukrainian choreography, ballet technique, and stage repertoire, performing at local community events, festivals, competitions, and ZDC’s signature Malanka Christmas show and year-end recitals. Each age group, from Beginners through Senior 2, trains in authentic dances and cultural forms—from Polissia, Volyn, Podillia, Bukovyna, Transcarpathia, Hutsul, and Central Ukraine—while advancing technique, musicality, and choreographic skill.
ZDC’s Ensemble has become an artistic force within the Ukrainian dance community. Their repertoire is extensive, featuring signature pieces choreographed by Serhiy, Liana, and their son Maksym Zabutnyy, including Pryvit, Volynska Kardylia, Vasylechky, Bubnarskyy Tanets, Danets, Dubotanets, Kadrili, Molodyi Misyatz, and the iconic Hopak, Ukraine’s national dance. The Ensemble has performed internationally at the International Ukrainian Dance & Culture Festival in Lviv, shared the stage with the Bukovynian Honoured Song and Dance Ensemble, and collaborated with Ternopil’s Nadbruchanka. In Canada, they have graced the Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (2013, 2016, 2022, 2023) and contributed to major cultural events such as the United For Ukraine benefit concert and the National Ballet of Ukraine’s Canadian tour, where their Hopak showcased the strength of the Ukrainian diaspora.
From the youngest dancers learning their first steps to advanced seniors performing technically demanding choreography, Zabutnyy Dance Company is driven by a deep passion for Ukrainian heritage, artistic excellence, and community. The school’s motto is reflected in every performance: honour the culture, elevate the art form, and inspire the next generation of Ukrainian dancers.
