Our Curriculum

In recent years, Ukrainian dance has evolved from a historic, "village-based" dance to today's performing stage art characterized by the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Since 1994, Shumka School of Dance and the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy have placed a high priority on the development and implementation of the Syllabus for Ukrainian Dance in order to ensure proper artistic training for generations to come. Thousands of hours have been dedicated to thorough research and methodical compilation in order to offer Canada's only curriculum-based Ukrainian dance program.

The Syllabus for Ukrainian Dance guides dancers step-by-step through nine levels of rigorous training in a logical progression ensuring proper growth and critical skill development and providing students with a broad base in dance, drama, and ethnography. With this program, Ukrainian dance now takes its place alongside other established dance forms such as ballet, tap and jazz with a recognized curriculum of study. Custom orchestrated music complements the learning experience.

Independent evaluations are offered under the authority of the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy. These evaluations build confidence and provide students with a sense of achievement and an indication of the dancer's technical ability.