Artistic Directors
Stan Slopek
Alumni Group
Stan Slopek was born in Regina and raised by parents who emigrated from Poland after the Second World War. He began Polish folk dancing at a very young age. This began his lifelong passion for Polish folk dance and music. In 1975, Stan traveled to Lublin, Poland to attend the certificate program for instructors of Polish dance groups. Throughout the years, Stan worked to further his knowledge of Polish folk dance. He has attended workshops in Gdansk and Rzeszow, Poland. He has participated in choreography workshops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in Regina at the Polish folk dance festival of the Americas. Stan has been a director with Polonia with over 20+ years experience and continues to show his passion for folk dance by returning to direct the group, Jeszcze Raz, formerly known as the Mamas and Papas group.
Lisa Novak
Senior Group
Lisa Novak was born in Regina to parents of Polish descent. Lisa began dancing at the age of five. In the fall of 2010, after 19 years as a dancer, Lisa assumed the role of assistant director of Polonia's senior group. In 2009 she also assisted in teaching the junior and intermediate groups of Polonia. She is a strong advocate for the arts and in 2013 completed her Bachelor of Education in visual arts. Lisa is currently the co-director of the senior group.
Iryna Smela
Senior, Junior & Intermediate Groups
Iryna Smela was born in Minsk, Belarus, and immigrated to Canada in 2007. Throughout her childhood, Iryna participated in many forms of dance, from ballet at a very young age to Irish dancing as a young adult. Iryna began Polish dancing at the age of 23 with Polish Dance Group Karolinka in Brest, Belarus. Upon Iryna's arrival in Canada, she joined Polonia and danced with the ensemble in 2007 and 2008. In the fall of 2014 Iryna assumed the role of director of the junior and intermediate groups and in 2020 became co-director of the Senior group.
Daniel Smela
Junior & Intermediate Groups
Daniel Smela was born in Regina to parents of Polish descent. Daniel began dancing with Polonia at the age of five and has been an integral part of the ensemble over the years. Daniel's passion for Polish dancing was really sparked while dancing in the senior group, thanks to the opportunity to travel and dance abroad. Daniel is currently the assistant director of the junior and intermediate groups.
Marten Fidler
Beginner Group
Marten Fidler was born in Regina to Polish parents. He joined the Polonia ensemble when he was seven and has continued ever since. Marten has played various roles within the executive committee, and has enjoyed many opportunities to take his talents abroad with the dance group. Marten has been the co-director of the beginner group since 2019.
Karin Rustad
Beginner Group
Karin Rustad is not of Polish descent but has been a part of the community since 2019. Karin started ballet classes when she was two and continued as a competitive dancer until she was eighteen. Karin is currently the co-director for the beginner group.