Welcome back!
If you’ve been following along with our tour schedule you may already know that last week we performed in Winnipeg and in a couple of days here we will be performing in Saskatoon. Winnipeg was such an amazing crowd, and we are beyond thankful to those who attended our show, especially to Rusalka who hosted a nice get-together for us afterward!
Packing for Saskatoon has been a bit more difficult than it was for Winnipeg. Mainly because after two years of not traveling, I had forgotten what was important to pack and what to leave behind, but also because we will be taking a bus to Saskatoon. In Shumka we have a common phrase, “Hurry Up and Wait” which dictates basically what it means to be on tour with us. Not just once we get going on tour but also what it was like leading up to it as well. Creative inspiration comes at its own speed, so while we were creating our new show there were many times when we dancers just stood waiting to hear our next steps from our Artistic and Creative leads. It also takes a long time to cast a show, so for us dancers, we hurry to learn combinations of different dances, then we audition those dances, and then we wait a couple of weeks before finding out our actual casting. Aside from that, touring itself can be described by this phrase. We rush to pack the night before leaving, we hurry to the airport, scramble through security, then must wait over an hour before boarding our plane. When we get there, we scurry to our bus, fly through check-in at our hotel, then have time before we have to be at the theatre. When we finally get to the theater is when our saying applies the most. Between moving sets, managing costumes, spacing through dances on stage, dealing with lighting, props and so much more, we are in a constant loop of hurry up and wait. Yet I find that it is within those moments that we tend to have the most fun.
Many of us take those short moments to slip in a nap or two. Tour can be exhausting, and we lose a lot of sleep, it is crucial to sleep when and where you can. There are also times when we like to spend some time together. In Winnipeg, I found myself with plenty of time to rest with a group of the boys, we played quite a few rounds of Дурак (dyrak) which is a fun, boisterous Ukrainian card game that leads to one unlikely loser at the end. Not only that but between the naps I also found time to read over half of a novel, braid four of my friends’ hair for the show and take some very funny photos and videos.
Us Shumka dancers like to take part in a few shenanigans occasionally, when appropriate. I was able to make a very goofy TikTok of some of the dancers, there was a picture being sent around the company of an incredibly exhausted Les Sereda (our Senior Creative Director and fill in for a character role in Mosquito’s Wedding).
But back to my original dilemma, I am unsure of what to pack because we have a long bus ride to and from Saskatoon and I am never sure what sort of fun I may have with my fellow dancers. However, just to be safe I’m going to pack a few books, some headphones, and a pillow!
Слава Україні!
Mara
