Ellie Starko*

She/Her Ellie began dancing at the age of three, training at the Shumka School of Dance. After graduating from the school, she continued to develop her skills and passion through Studia Shumka. Currently a student at Archbishop Jordan High School, Ellie is preparing to begin her final year in Grade 12. Her love for Ukrainian dance has been inspired by…

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Brooklyn Pattullo

She/Her Brooklyn Pattullo started Ukrainian dancing when she was just 3 years old, and with that came a deep love for dance. At 8, she began competitive dancing in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles. After graduating high school and moving to Edmonton, she chose to continue her dance journey with Studia Shumka. She is currently studying at the University…

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Cowan Senko

He/Him Cowan began dancing at the age of three with the Thorhild Ukrainian Dance Society. He later joined the Shumka School of Dance alongside his siblings, where he took classes in both Ukrainian dance and ballet. During his time with the school, he performed as a child in Shumka’s Nutcracker for two consecutive years, as well as in Ancestors & Elders. In 2023,…

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Alyssa Eugenio

The Director of Studia Shumka is Alyssa Eugenio. She is officially the head of the ensemble and the key point of communication between the Studia dancers and other aspects of the Shumka organization. Alyssa began her dance career studying Ukrainian and ballet, and has supplemented her training to include tap, jazz, and hip hop. Since becoming a member of the…

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Brenden Kuzma

He/Him Brenden Kuzma began his dance career in his hometown town of Prince George, British Columbia. He moved to Alberta in 2011 to pursue his dream of dancing with Edmonton’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Dancing with the company from 2011 to 2019, Brenden was involved in many different areas of the company including the dancer executive as props director, the artistic…

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