Did You Know...
Artistic Director, Dave Ganert’s, most recent choreographic work is Shumka’s 50th Anniversary Hopak set for 58 dancers and danced to an original symphonic score by Kyiv composer, Yuri Shevchenko and original costume designs by Maria Levitska of Kyiv’s National Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Most Recent
Related Links
Follow Shumka
Alumni
A Proud Past ... A Brilliant Future!
It is through our love of dance and the Ukrainian culture that Shumka brought our lives together. Having met and danced around the world with Shumka, in 1982 we married, with our extended Shumka family rounding off the wedding celebration with a superb and unforgettable Hopak. To this day, Shumka remains a significant part of our social and volunteer life.
Shumka dancers, late 70s/early 80's
The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers Alumni Association (USDAA) was formed following the Dancersʼ 25th Anniversary in 1984, to promote fellowship among former dancers and to support the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Initially, the group was formed primarily as a social outlet for retired dancers but its focus has since become more project-based.
In 1991, the Shumka Alumni Association was pleased to produce, publish and distribute the coffee table book Shumka: Tradition in Motion.
More recently, the USDAA capitalized on the expertise among its membership and became responsible for conceptualizing and initiating a legacy project for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. The Alumni joined forces with the City of Edmonton to fund and build The Shumka Stage in Louise McKinney Park in Edmontonʼs river valley, located immediately below the Shaw Conference Centre. In June, 2007, Mayor
Mandel officially declared the new multi-use stage open for performance and community use. On July 1st, 2009, the Donor Wall displaying the many contributors to the legacy project was unveiled.
The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers Alumni Association is proud to have planned its 50th Anniversary Banquet celebrating a half-century of Shumka Dancers and their support organizations. With Alumni membership now nearing 400, the USDAA continues to work diligently to support and to celebrate Shumkaʼs many accomplishments and to treasure the rich memories that fifty years holds.