Since its inception in 1988, Vinok Worldance has introduced thousands of students throughout North America to the beauty and diversity of global culture.  Vinok’s educational productions, offered in schools and at theatres, incorporate dance, live music, and audience participation to create performances that are engaging, educational and fun. 

 

The excellence of Vinok’s educational programming has led to the company’s inclusion on the educational rosters of the Los Angeles Music Center, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  Vinok’s in-school residency program is included in the Artists and Education Program administered by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

 

The company’s repertoire is comprised of more than 60 choreographies from 50 separate cultures on five continents.  Performances feature live accompaniment by the company’s skilled quartet of multi-instrumentalists who often compose or orchestrate the music. The musical and choreographic repertoire is enhanced by Vinok’s extensive collection of cultural costumes, many of which have been made in their countries of origin. 

 

Vinok Worldance was formed by Leanne Koziak and Doyle Marko following four years of professional dance experience, cultural study and research in Europe. This immersion into aspects of world culture provided the foundation for the continuing artistic mandate and philosophy of Vinok Worldance: in staging their works, Koziak and Marko conceive the choreography as a mirror wherein dance, music, song, and improvisation, as a way of celebrating life, reflect the expression of a people.

 

Described as "Canada’s United Nations of Dance", Vinok has toured eight productions throughout North America playing to audiences from Yukon Territory, to the American South, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.  Vinok also created and staged Alberta Unity Dance for the official celebrations surrounding the province’s Centennial in 2005 and has enjoyed many broadcasts of its programming.