Kvitka
Who We Are
The Ukrainian Culture has so many beautiful aspects and we are so proud to be sharing it with Red Deer and area! Some of the aspects that we focus on are Ukrainian Dance, of course, as well as the music, beautiful authentic costumes from Ukraine, teaching our members how to make unique items such as Paskas (braided bread), and Pysanky (Easter Eggs) and more!
Kvitka, has been in Red Deer for over 40 years and has been a registered society since 1986. We offer weekly classes in Ukrainian Dance with a qualified, passionate instructor. Our dancers range in age from 3 to over 80 years who come from Red Deer and surrounding communities. Ukrainian heritage is not a requirement of membership – in fact, we welcome everyone to share in this beautiful culture.
Performances & Activities
Our dancers are available to provide entertainment, demonstrations, or stage performances for various venues, groups, or organizations, upon request.
Invite Kvitka to Your Event
We host various social functions including the Ukrainian New Year’s dance, Malanka, a Spring recital that showcases all dances taught each year and a food booth at Red Deer’s Canada Day celebration.
We also participate in dance competitions throughout the province and other various events in town, such as the Festival of Trees.
We hope you will come out and dance, watch or attend any or all of our functions!
Instructor Profile
Our beautiful and talented instructor, Ms Kayla Devaux
“I began dancing at the age of ten and it took only one practice for me to fall in love with Ukrainian Dance. At the age of fourteen I was asked to be an assistant instructor and couldn’t turn it down. I was very fortunate to have had great mentors such as Vincent Rees and Paul Olijnyk training me. After years of gaining the necessities about teaching children, dance, and my culture, I felt ready to expand on my own. I have now been instructing all around Alberta for fourteen years. During this time I have participated in many workshops and conferences throughout Ukraine and Canada. Including a two week intensive dance program with Virksy in Kiev Ukraine at the age of sixteen, followed by three more summers spent in Ukraine studying the regions of Pokuttia, Podillia, Hutzel, Bukovynian, and Boiko. I have also actively participated in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s summer teacher training program as well as multiple Ukrainian workshops and conferences throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.
My second passion is travelling the world. I have been all over Canada from Victoria to Toronto including Niagara Falls which will always be one of my favorite places. I have experienced the great Las Vegas, Montana, Texas, California, Florida, New York City, Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, Germany and I have been fortunate enough to visit Ukraine four different times. When I’m not teaching or travelling, I love being with friends and family. Movie nights, game nights, sit around the fire nights… good company makes any night fantastic!
Instructing Ukrainian Dance is my full-time career and so blessed that I get the opportunity to do something in life that I am completely passionate about. I am also extremely proud to be on the board of the Alberta Ukrainian Dance Association”.
