Bring the joy and pride of cultural dance to newcomer children and youth from Ukraine.

Excellent dance training, long-lasting friendships, a strong sense of community, and genuine leadership opportunities all included!

Every $700 raised marks another young Ukrainian newcomer who is able to dance and practise their culture because of your generous support.

How to support? Visit our donation page and select “SSD Newcomers” on the Project drop-down menu.

For alternative or in-person payment options, please contact June Eeles at (780) 455-9559.

An unprovoked war has threatened Ukraine’s livelihood and culture, forcing innocent families to flee their homes and restart their lives in a new land. They strive to live a normal life with limited resources.

Your donation provides opportunities for newcomer children and youth to proudly preserve their culture through dance — to bring them an essential sense of community and identity in these challenging times.

Donations go directly towards newcomer tuition and registration fees for training at the Shumka School of Dance in the 2023/24 academic year. All contributions, regardless of the amount or whether it’s a one-time or monthly donation, will be appreciated greatly.

The Shumka School of Dance offers high quality instruction in a welcoming atmosphere for students ages 3 and up. The dance school is the home of North America’s only official Ukrainian dance syllabus, designed to ensure a culturally and technically enriched training program. Students in the Shumka School of Dance are given a supportive environment to learn about dance as an important facet of Ukrainian folk culture, all while making life-long friendships and developing useful leadership skills.

Building on the initial success the Shumka School of Dance had in raising funds for newcomer children in the 2022/23 season, the school is excited to present this giving opportunity once again. Help a child find a sense of cultural pride and community, while also learning valuable skills in coordination, listening, memory, teamwork, and leadership.

The average cost per child for annual enrolment in the Shumka School of Dance’s core division is $700 (costs vary slightly for different age groups). Newcomer applicants are provided funding on a first-come first-serve basis.

FAQs

Q: What happens if the total donation amount falls between exact multiples of the $700 tuition estimate?

A: Funds will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis. If the final donation amount is not able to cover expenses for all applicants, only the final awarded applicant will be subject to receive partial funding.

Q: What happens if all the dancer fees are covered for all applicants involved, but there are still funds leftover?

A: If all fees for tuition in the Shumka School of Dance core division are covered by the raised funds, for all applicants, remaining funds will then begin to be distributed to cover tuition for additional optional classes offered by the Shumka School of Dance, outside of the core division. This includes supplementary Ukrainian character, ballet, and contemporary classes. Fund distribution will follow the same order of applicants as previously followed.

If there are still leftover funds after all additional fees are covered for all applicants, the remaining funds will be transferred to the next season’s newcomer tuition fund.

Q: What is the application process for Ukrainian newcomers who may be interested in benefiting from the program?

A: Interested applicants and/or their guardian(s) can contact Shumka’s reception desk, who will have them register preemptively for the 2023/24 dance school season. If one prefers to register for classes online or is already registered they must still contact a Shumka or Shumka School of Dance staff member in order to be considered as an applicant.

The guardian(s) of the applicant (or the applicant themselves, if over 18 years of age) must be able to attest to having emigrated from Ukraine after January 1, 2022, and lack the reasonable financial ability to support the applicant through the dance program on their own. Funds will then be distributed to registered applicants on a first-come first-serve basis.

Q: Why dance? Why not a team sport like soccer or hockey?

A: Ukrainian folk dance is a well-known and vital part of Ukrainian culture. Today, Ukrainian dance combines the long-held folk traditions of the Ukrainian people with modernized training practices to create a cultural spectacle for all to enjoy! Ukrainian dance is not only a comforting, familiar sight for Ukrainian newcomers, but also one that instils a unique sense of cultural pride.

Dance also teaches those essential coordination, communication, and leadership skills often learned in team sports! Ukrainian dance classes are simply one of the very best ways for Ukrainian newcomer children and youth to feel welcome and comfortable here in Canada!

For more information call (780) 455-9559 or send an email to shumka@shumka.com.