From humble beginnings in small-town Alberta to big international stages;  from the local fabric stores choosing just the right materials to numerous prototypes designed and redesigned in her kitchen until they were perfect; from sewing thousands upon thousands of pieces to standardizing individual Poltava and Hutzul costumes; from cleaning and maintaining the costumes to creating an inventory and labelling process…

June Eeles is one of the most genuine people we know.  Her contributions to Shumka began at the level of Shumka School, as the mother of 3 young boys who would all in time become members of the parent company. It has been said that a business isn’t run by the boss, but rather by the talent sitting at the…

An impeccable eye for detail.  High expectations of herself, her team and the dancers themselves. Extreme pride in how the company looked in every single performance whether at Barb & Ernie’s Restaurant, the Kiev Opera House or at the Jubilee Auditorium.  All of these were qualities that Joyce Howell brought to her role as Head of Wardrobe for Shumka, Shumka…