At age 2 1/2, Donna set foot on the wooden floor of the Ukrainian American Club of Miami to learn her first steps as a member of the Ukrainian Dancers of Miami. In 1990, upon the death of founder and director Taras Maksymowich, she stepped in as Artistic Director and has guided the group into the new millennium with his vision. Since she began as Artistic Director, she has helped guide the group through its incorporation as a non-profit, expanded the number of dancers by 100%, expanded the number of invitations to dance by 300%, taken the group to perform out of the state of Florida for the first time in it's history, established an annual theater concert "A Ukrainian Montage", resurrected the exciting annual tradition of "Malanka" Ukrainian New Year's, and helped expand the fiscal activity of the group by 800%. With the faithful support (and muscle) of her husband Richard, Donna not only personally teaches each member of the troupe from toddler to 60+, she also organizes every aspect of the group's travel and performance, including personally transporting the group's sound equipment to every event.

Donna's tireless dedication to the Ukrainian Dancers of Miami is a product of what her parents' generation taught her: that a person's cultural heritage something to be treasured and that, in today's society of technology and homogeny, the preservation of one's traditions is more crucial than ever. She will continue to do just that, as she--in her father's footsteps--guides the Ukrainian Dancers of Miami into its bright future.