Bryan Pitchko

Bryan began his dancing career in Winnipeg in 1990. He joined the ranks of a church based group on one condition. "I get to do the split jumps." Since that time Bryan has spent twenty-three years as a dancer, thirteen of which were with semi-professional companies. Over the course of his years dancing semi-professionally, Bryan has performed in 12 countries on four continents. Despite the many exotic locations in which he has performed, Bryan considers his most memorable performance to be one in Calgary that he shared with his two sisters and both his parents, who are all Ukrainian dancers, as well. Bryan has been instructing and choreographing Ukrainian dance since 2008. Bryan has instructed and run workshops with such groups as Kupalo Ukrainian Dancers (Edmonton), Zorya Dancers (Vernon, B.C.), Sopilka Dancers (Vegreville), Volya School (Edmonton) Tryzub School (Calgary), Holubka Dancers (Smokey Lake, AB), and St. Basil's School of Dance (Edmonton). Bryan has been the guest choreographer for the Zorya Senior Ensemble since January of 2011 and has been back at least once every season since. In 2016 and 2017, along with his wife Morghan, Bryan traveled extensively through Africa and India. Along that journey he encountered dozens of inspiring art forms that influence his work today. The Ensemble and the School have benefited greatly from the vast experience and artistic insight Bryan has brought with him as a dancer, a respected choreographer and a dynamic and passionate teacher. Outside of the dancing world Bryan is a dedicated musician, golf enthusiast, and enjoys spending time with his nieces and nephew. Without a doubt, the most inspirational person in Bryan's dancing career has been his Baba Betty, who at the age of 92, never turned down a polka. Currently Bryan and Morghan reside in Calgary and they are expecting their first child in August.