Jerry and Loverne Wowk joined Shumka shortly after moving from Saskatoon. They danced and choreographed together for many years.

“We brought our backgrounds as not only dance teachers, but school teachers. We had some knowledge about organization and structure, plus experience with choreography, so we put that knowledge into Shumka. I had the ideas and Jerry did all the technical stuff— the number of people, the lines and spacing.

Shumka’s shows were so good, but it was the people that made the difference. When you tour with a certain group of people and you sit in a hotel with them for weeks, it’s hard not to become even more closely connected. It’s those bits and pieces of belonging to friend groups, and everyone in Shumka was a part of that friendship group. The shows were fun, but it’s all the little stuff that really sticks with you. There was an extended family feeling every time we went on a trip.”

Both Jerry and Laverne have made contributions to Shumka that have had a lasting impact. Currently, they sit on the Shumka School advisory committee and are donors to the group. Thank you, Jerry and Loverne.