Our final award recipient this evening is ‘that person’ who smiles broadly after he says the word “Shumka.” A Shumka dancer for 15 years, Evan Zukiwsky stood out on stage for his golden sharavary and his robust depictions of characters such as the young prodigy in Travelling Chumaky, a lead dancer in Night of Perun, and the love interest of Katrusia, the blacksmith’s daughter.  When not performing, he led by his example of holding only the highest expectations both for himself and for all Shumka members.  There is a reason Evan was the feature soloist on the 1995 Absolutely Shumka Tour poster.

While still dancing, as well as being a member of several committees, Evan served for 5 years on the dancer-led Shumka Executive as the Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and Props and Costumes Director.

Currently as an alumnist he continues to dedicate his time and expertise with an impressive resume that includes having served on the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers Foundation for 4 terms, first as a Director and ultimately as its President.

After the conclusion of his presidency, Evan assisted with the company’s administrative restructuring of the USDF into the new Shumka Board of Directors, and most recently served as Chair of the Board for the past four years.

During his time on both boards, Evan was challenged with several crucial administrative crises that were not publicly known.  It was his patience, his clarity of understanding and his acute sense of responsibility which helped him manage those delicate situations in a purposely private and effective manner. More recently, managing the challenges of the current pandemic, which included several closings and re-openings of the studio, serious financial shortages, and the repeated postponement of the intended tour, were also accomplished under his nurturing leadership.

Evan has always been acutely aware that all Shumka members before him laid a path for his own success; he has often spoken about the legacy that we were left with and the legacy we need to uphold in all our endeavours as members of the Shumka Family.

With nearly 35 years of dedicated service to the company, Evan himself has become a member of Shumka’s storied past and remains an integral part of Shumka’s future…someone whom current dancers can look to when they speak of the legacy of Shumka that has been left to them.