Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Meet our Instructors Shaughnessy Potter and Jessie Balan!
Shaughnessy’s career in Ukrainian dance started at the young age of 3 with the Edmonton School of Ukrainian Dance. She became an assistant instructor at age 12, and then at 16 she chose to officially pursue a career teaching Ukrainian dance after being inspired by her Mother, Debbie Kachmar-Potter and Uncle, Ken Kachmar. She is currently in her 5th year as a member of the Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. She has travelled to Portugal, the United States, and across Canada and attended workshops led by renowned choreographers from Ukraine and dancers from Virsky. In 2019, Shaughnessy was honoured to receive the Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble Society Rebecca Kassian Memorial Scholarship. One of her career highlights was performing alongside ladies from the Ukrainian National Academic Folk Chorus Veryovka, with Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble at the 50th annual Pysanka Festival. Shaughnessy currently attends the Concordia University of Edmonton where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in drama.
Jessie began Ukrainian dance classes in Radway and continued to dance in rural communities before joining the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in 2012, where he is still an active ensemble member. Jessie was fortunate enough to be a part of the ensemble's most recent production "Dusha Narodu - The Spirit of a Nation" in September. While Jessie enjoys serving Volya as a cast member for their performances, he has also served on the ensemble's Executive Board for the last ten years. Currently, Jessie is also a dance instructor at the Sherwood Park Koperoush School of Dance and Thorhild Ukrainian Dance Club. One of his career highlights was participating in the filming of
a short-film "Ukrainian Dance Movie" in Los Angeles in August 2023.
We are grateful for both of our Instructors and their willingness and passion in sharing their love of Ukrainian dance and culture!
