“One of the moments that really sticks out to me was being a part of the original cast for what is now Shumka’s Nutcracker; back then we called it Clara’s Dream. As a dancer, to be a part of that, and to get to dance with your idols (from Virsky and Kyiv Ballet) was just amazing.” Laura Stachniak danced during…

“I came to Edmonton from Innisfree, moved from the country and was playing football, trying to make a football team, when I heard about this thing called the Shumka Dancers. I tried out, I made Shumka, and Shumka got an engagement to go to Expo 67. So, I handed off my last football, and put on the boots and became…

“We’ve done Canadian tours, and got a chance to meet the Prime Minister, danced for the Queen…all kinds of exciting opportunities like that, that you wouldn’t get normally.” Blain and Marlene (Sulyma) Gowing are both alumnists of Shumka. They were the champions of Shumka’s 2016 Capital Campaign with funds raised going to the facility upgrades that made the Shumka Dance…