She/Her

Since she was a little girl watching from the audience, Leda Tarnawsky has aspired to be a Shumka Dancer. She began her dance training at the age of four and three years later, joined the Shumka School where she discovered her love for Ukrainian dance. Through the school, she participated in regional dance workshops in Ukraine, further deepening her connection to the art form.

In 2018, Leda successfully auditioned for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Since joining the company, she has performed in productions including Ancestors and Elders, Mosquito’s Wedding, Shumka at 60, Canada’s Ukrainian Nutcracker, and Ukrainka. She has performed with the company across Canada as part of Shumka at 60 on Tour and toured the Eastern United States in Nadiya Ukraine, a collaboration with the National Ballet of Ukraine. She also appeared as a guest artist in Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.

Leda holds Tier 1 and 2 certification through Shumka’s Syllabus for Ukrainian Dance. She currently serves as an instructor with the Shumka School of Dance, and regularly teaches at Shumka Summer Dance Camps. In addition to performing and teaching, she was part of the organizing team for the inaugural Shumka Dance Festival in 2025.