Did You Know...
Gordon Gordey, Shumka’s Chief Executive Officer, is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the development of theatre in Alberta in Theatre 100: Celebrating 100 theatre practitioners over 100 years.
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Supporters
Decades of support, enthusiasm and encouragement speak volumes!
It is truly a rare privilege to rise and speak to this Assembly in tribute to Edmonton's world-renowned Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Mr. Speaker, Shumka's legacy of accomplishments spans four continents, three generations, and 50 years of dedication and commitment to preserving Ukrainian culture in Canada. Shumka is a household name synonymous with energy, excitement and excellence. I'm very proud that Shumka is a fixture in my constituency.
Edmonton-Calder
Shumka's passion for, pride in, and love of, our Ukrainian heritage are only a few of the reasons its beauty has become so engrained in Alberta's cultural psyche. Shumka draws strength and inspiration from the Ukrainian Canadian contribution to Canada and from the wider community, which believes in the company's pursuit of the evolution of the art form. Our community roots run deep, and are reflected in the support of our patrons, funders, donors and audiences.
The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers are humbled to be of, and belong to, the community in which we create our art.
Shumka believes that it is vitally important that our work be relevant and meaningful to the artists and audiences of today. To express the aesthetic of the time in which we live, the stories told and statements made must speak to the experiences of our collective soul, marking our place in history.
Graham Hicks, a veteran columnist for the Edmonton Sun, has followed the company over several decades. On the occasion of Shumka's half-century celebrations, Hicks wrote:
It may be the 50th anniversary of Shumka, but I'd prefer to think of it as a wedding anniversary of Edmonton and the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. There is absolutely no question that this city's cultural identity, its very soul, is wrapped up in the Ukrainian fact...which is Shumka. That Shumka has survived, let alone flourished as it has, it truly astounding.
Shumka's quality continues to be mind-blowing. Choreographically, Shumka honours its past and Ukrainian folk traditions but has kept pushing the envelope. Some 20 years ago, I wrote a Shumka review headlined "Unshackle Shumka", arguing Shumka was ready to evolve into a truly homegrown "Canadian" dance form. Indeed, Shumka has been unshackled.
Graham Hicks
Edmonton Sun