In order to continually expand their repertoire and further develop as a professional calibre dance company, Arkan frequently commissions Guest Choreographers to create innovative and orginal choreography. In the past, Guest Choreographers from Ukraine and Canada have brought the company a new repertoire of Ukrainian, Canadian and culture specific choreography.

Rafail Malynowsky, National Artist of Ukraine

One of Ukraine’s most highly acclaimed choregraphers, Mr. Rafail Malynowsky of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, has honoured the Ukrainian Academy of Dance and Arkan Dance Company with his choreography and presence in 1994, 2001, 2005 and 2007. He has created over 30 original choreographies for Arkan Dance Company alone, as well as irreversibly inspired and shaped every dancer who has been lucky enough to work under him. Mr. Malynowsky is the renowned expert on the folk dance idion of the northern and north-central regions of Ukraine, and has been deemed National Artist of Ukraine (an honour equivalent to the Order of Canada) in recognition of his extraordinary talent.

Mr. Malynowsky was born in Lebedivka and graduated from the Zhytomyr School of Choreography. He studied folk dance in the city of Krasnodar, Kuban (in southern Ukraine), and then held the position of Artistic Director/Ballet Master of Lyonok Ensemble in Zhytomyr for 14 years. He established the Rodoslav Ukrainian Song and Dance Company in Zhytomyr in 1990 and is currently the Artistic Director there. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Malynowsky served as the Assistant Director and Choreographer at the Ukrainian Centre in Moscow, Russia. He is frequently commissioned to choreograph for performing groups and cultural organizations across Ukraine and Russia, and travels often throughout Europe and abroad.