Melanie Moravski Dechnicz
Artistic Director
AleX DechnICZ
Production Manager
Stephan Moravski
Creative Designer
Natalia Moravski
Costume Designer
Artistic Director
Melanie Moravski Dechnicz
Merited (Performing) Artist Of Ukraine | Заслужений Діяч Мистецтв України
Melanie is a Graduate of a Bachelor of Performing Arts, and trained with Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company, Ukraine’s most prestigious dance company in Kyiv. She has also trained under many renowned Ukrainian choreographers including Mykola Kanevets, Sergei Zubatov, Sergei Makarov and Valery Debelyy.
In 2009 Melanie was awarded and presented with the esteemed title - Merited (Performing) Artist of Ukraine by then Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
Melanie is the founder and Artistic Director of Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company, with whom she has produced three national and one international tour since its inception in 2014. She also teaches Character to Students in Levels 4-6 at the Australian Ballet School.
Melanie has taught at dance ensembles and schools nationally and internationally, including The Australian Ballet School Summer and Winter Schools, and The Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop in New York.
Previously the Artistic Director of Verchoyvna Ukrainian Youth Association Dance Ensemble from 2005-2013, and character lecturer at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet / Melbourne Conservatoire of Ballet from 2012- 2021.
Melanie has choreographed many touring productions; most noted works are full length folk ballet ‘Kazka’, which received critical acclaim nationally and throughout North America and Canada, and ‘Legend, Stories of a Nation’.
To contact Melanie email director@lehenda.com.au
PRODUCTION Manager
ALEX DECHNICZ
Performing Ukrainian Cossack dancing since the age of 3, taught by his grandmother, Australian Ukrainian Dance pioneer Natalia Tyrawski, Alex has been teaching Ukrainian Dance for over 15 years. Alex is one of the famous Cossack Brothers of Melbourne and has performed and toured with various Australian Ukrainian Dance Companies over the years. From the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony, AFL Footy Show, Folklorama Festival (Canada) to countless festivals, weddings and corporate shows, Alex is a great asset to the team, inspiring boys of all ages with his experience and extensive range of solos.
Scenic and Graphic Design
Stephan Moravski
Stephan Moravski is a set designer based in downtown Manhattan, an alumnus of Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, graduating with a Master of Set Design for Stage and Film. He completed his Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne. His recent work includes: ‘Bound’ (Fresh Squeezed Opera NYC), ‘Carmen’ (Opera Naples), ‘Carmen’ (Moorhead Opera Fargo), ‘Aida’ (Opera Naples), ‘Figaro’ (Opera Naples), ‘Tesla’ opera (Colony Theater, Miami), ‘Cendrillon’ (Frost School of Music, National Opera Association first prize winner), ‘Legend, Stories of a Nation’ (Lehenda Dance company), ‘Rabbit Hole’ (Theater with a view, PA), ‘Don Juan’ (Bard College), “I wasn’t going to tell anybody’ an Adam Bock play (NYU), ‘Eurydice’ (Jane Havoc Theater), and was associate on ‘Rags Parkland’ (Ars Nova, 2019 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical), ‘The Treasurer’ (Playwrights Horizons) and ‘Light Years’ (Powerhouse Theater). He and his team were 2017 finalists in Opera America’s Director-Designer grant for their work on ‘Glory Denied.’ Stephan has assisted Opera designer Paul Steinberg and freelances as a design consultant in creative visual merchandising at Tiffany & Co. Stephan has a strong connection to his Ukrainian heritage and grew up dancing and teaching Ukrainian dance. He is currently the resident designer and Creative Director at Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company, and the resident designer at the Phoenix Theatre PA.
Costume Designer
Natalia Moravski
Natalia began her work as a costume designer with Verchovyna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, CYM Melbourne in 1975 when she took on the role as Artistic Director. Her interest in researching and designing traditional costumes to compliment her choreography began at this time. After 20 years as Artistic Director she become head Costume Designer. Natalia has many years of experience project managing concerts and tours regionally and nationally and internationally. Natalia is a member of the board of MAV (Multicultural Arts Victoria). Between 1996-2001 she organised four major exhibitions focused on Ukrainian art and culture: Steppes Across Ukraine (VicHealth Access Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria), Ukrainian Echoes (VicHealth Access Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria), A Place in the Sun (VicHealth Access Gallery, Immigration Museum), 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Catholic Church - the life of Ukrainian Catholics in Australia over 50 years (St Patrick's Cathedral, Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Ukrainian Museum). She is MAV's longest serving Board member and current Deputy Chairperson. Natalia has lead all costume designs for Lehenda including Kazka and LEGEND - Stories of a Nation.