Trinity Chopyk is an individual who has supported many facets of Shumka – wielding an impressive combination of both artistic and administrative contributions not often seen. Trinity spent 4 years on the Artistic Committee, providing whatever support was needed to the Artistic Director and other artistic leaders: from artistic lead, to wedding hopaks, company rehearsals and auditions, casting and setting,…

Corinna is a weaver of a thousand opportunities, sharing her talent for dance along with her wicked organizational and motivational skills.  Over and over, she has used these skills to create, envision, streamline, and let’s be honest…just get stuff done. During her dancing years, Corinna (Crockett) Dooley served on the dancer-led Executive for 3 years, first as Personnel and Company…

Alyssa Eugenio is one of those rare members with contributions to nearly every facet of the organization.  And I say “nearly” every facet because as a current dancing member, she simply hasn’t hit alumni status yet. With over 15 years of dedicated service in the company, Alyssa Eugenio has built an impressive resume. She possesses incredible administrative skills, honed most…

In April 2018, Shumka premiered a piece of choreography that gave voice to the stories and connections that were lost long ago, bringing to the forefront the stories of two cultures – Ukrainian Canadians and the First Nations peoples – and allowed dancers, artists and audience members an opportunity to explore the shared values and respected differences between the two. This Membership with Distinction recipient…

Murray Howell boasts a vast blend of artistic and administrative contributions but is anything but boastful.  From the front of the studio to Camp Oselia, to the smoky bingo halls of old, Murray Howell was an unassuming leader in Shumka for over 15 years. It is said that leaders inspire others by evoking feelings in their followers, and as an…

Folkloric encyclopedia.  Humble team player. Relationship builder. Passionate advocate for Shumka and Ukrainian folk dance. Just a few ways to describe an individual who has been a creative force in Shumka and a consistent calming presence within the studio for over a decade. Paul Olijnyk has a talent for creating choreography with an attention to authenticity, innovation and detail, as…

Dance as a collaborative art involves the painstaking grind of ongoing dedication, training, precision, interpretation, reinterpretation, balanced critique, gentle and earnest discourse, growth, discovery and eventually: BEAUTY.  As artists, we know that this culmination point is not necessarily what we expect it to be at the outset, but those who have walked the road enough times know that it can…

Wally Tarnawsky was a dancing member for 5 years but has contributed for over 30.  During his dancing time, he volunteered on many committees and was a 3-term board member on the dancer-led Executive. Once retired Wally served on the Alumni Association including a term as its President and volunteered as Merchandise Assistant during the Absolutely Shumka and Cinderella Canadian…

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,…