SEASON SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Nutcracker
UKRAINIAN SHUMKA DANCERS + VICTORIA SYMPHONY With Honoured Artists of Ukraine
Friday, December 1 + Saturday, December 2 • 7:00 pm Saturday, December 2 + Sunday, December 3 • 1:00 pm Running time (including intermission): 1 hour, 50 minutes The Royal Theatre is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create, and perform on this territory.
A Message from Ukrainian Shumka Dancers From Our Family to Yours: The Magic of Shumka’s Nutcracker… Welcome to the elegance and enchantment of Shumka’s Nutcracker. The delightful story of young Clara, her dream prince, brave soldiers, and the meddling mice, is reimagined and proudly presented as a Ukrainian version of this famous seasonal work. The unique blend of the grace and lyricism of classical movement with the strength and power of Ukrainian dance brings a special sense of energy and excitement to this Christmas classic. Joining us in dance are renowned dance artists of Ukraine, Mattierin Irish Dance, 16 amazing community voices who have gathered to form the Clara’s Dream Choir, and young dancers from Victoria’s own Veselka. With over 80 cast and crew — plus the amazing Victoria Symphony — united
in this artistic collaboration, true magic comes to life on stage after a four year absence due to COVID. Shumka’s Nutcracker has returned as a new Christmas tradition in Canada, and we couldn’t be happier. We sincerely thank Dance Victoria, our funders, sponsors, donors and volunteers for helping make this a reality. And of course, we thank you, our audience, for making our Nutcracker part of your holiday plans. May you and yours share a Christmas season full of love, hope, and peace. Enjoy Clara’s magical journey with us today and be sure to come back to the world of Shumka again and again. — Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
Production Team Producer Ukrainian Shumka Dancers Darka Tarnawsky, Executive Director Creative Producer Sulyma Productions Inc. Producer: Michael H. Sulyma Production Artistic Director / Choreographer Viktor Lytvynov Shumka Artistic Director Les Sereda
Wardrobe Director Trinity Kenneth Wardrobe Assistants MaryAnn Baziuk Shirley Borys Pinky Eugenio Marian Gauk Vicki Kinnicki Tanya Skitsko Keri Waller Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells) Arrangement: Yuri Shevchenko
Shumka Creative Director Tasha Orysiuk Marketing Bottom Line Productions Inc. Artistic Consultant / Snowflake Waltz, Hopak Choreographer John Pichlyk Repetiteurs Maksym Karpenko (Verbunk) Paul Olijnyk Consultants and Choreographic Adaptations to Chinese Dance Martial Arts Master Amanda Min Wen Wei Wang Choreographic Adaptations to Snake Lady Dance Annikka Dobko Tasha Orysiuk Sets & Costumes Designer Maria Levitska Marionetka Costume Design Stephanie Bahniuk Lighting Design Jeff Osterlin Production Stage Manager Joshua Semchuk Head Carpenter Ivan Siemens Stage Carpenter/Transportation Vlodko Tarnawsky
Photography Marc J. Chalifoux Photography Ryan Parker Photography Graphic Design Helen Adhikari Physiotherapy Tanya Skitsko For the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers Programs & Outreach Administrator: June Eeles Shumka School of Dance Principal: Peter Eeles Fund Development Coordinator: Nicolas Pacholok Production Management: Joshua Semchuk & Darka Tarnawsky Acknowledgements Shumka School of Dance Loadstar Day & Ross AMA Travel - Shelley Samycia Viter Ukrainian Dancers & Folk Choir
Shumka’s Nutcracker Cast *All casting subject to change ARTISTS OF CANADA’S UKRAINIAN SHUMKA DANCERS Jason Adams Jacob August Katie August** Ryan Beztilny Courtney Basaraba Matthew Borys Annikka Dobko Tesia Doblanko Elyse Dzenick Lauren Dzenick Michael Eeles Alyssa Eugenio* Joseph Ewaskiw** Taras Geleta Viktoriya Glozhyk Natasha Grant* Ashlyn Grummett Nicholas Hynek Maksym Kadziela
Markian Kolonsky Emily Kotowich Caitlin Loree Calynn Lirette Taryna Marko Arlyssa McArthur Abigail Moser** Ava Moser Joshua Pacholok* Nicolas Pacholok* Mara Palahniuk Malia Pattullo** Daria Podilsky Mark Rachmistruk** Adam Samoil Andrew Samoil Nicole Schimpf Breanna Senko Joseph Senko
Alyssa Shukalek Julianna Shukalek Danica Skitsko Alex Stasiuk Rachel Starko Murray Steele Samuel Stychyshyn** Michael V. Sulyma Leda Tarnawsky Laurelle Unger Ashlyn Waller Kieran Waller** Vanessa Wynnyk Zachary Wynnyk Zane Zimmerman Michael Zukiwsky * Shumka Artistic Committee ** Apprentice Dancer
ARTISTS OF CLARA’S DREAM CHOIR Tim Baydala Natalka Beaudoin Rick Doblanko Orest Fialka Gene Hirniak Melody Kostiuk
Stefania Kostiuk Arlene Kryschuk Dorianne Martyniuk Slavko Nohas Greg Pacholok Susan Romaniuk
Nadine Samycia Irena Tarnawsky Vlodko Tarnawsky Michael Zukiwsky
MATTIERIN IRISH DANCERS Siobhan Sara Tomlinson
Julia Elizabeth Willsey
CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE Children's Director: Lisa Hall, Artistic Director, Veselka Ukrainian Dancers “Children” Kalida Cordoni Adisa Czinkota Norah Drzymala Neely Pavlo Fabrikov Theo Ksyunz
Liam Lagadyn Troy Rees Zlata Shumik Charlotte Smith Veronika Sydoruk Mira Vasiuta Zoë Zolpys
“Mice” Kaya Cordoni Lana Dahan Nika Kaplun Polly Konstantynova Evelyn Ksyunz Alora Messerschmidt
About Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
Sixty years of performance history has shaped Shumka’s signature music and dance style. While maintaining deep respect for their heritage, Shumka continually challenges conventional boundaries to define the experience of Ukrainian dance in the context of today’s society. Shumka’s most recent works include Kobzar (2016), Ancestors & Elders (2018/2019) and Mosquito’s Wedding
(2019). Most recently, the company brought Mosquito’s Wedding, Echoes of Hopak and two other pieces across the country with its Shumka On Tour production in 2022, Shumka’s 10th Cross Canada tour. Part of Shumka’s mandate is the creation of a centre of excellence in dance education to prepare the next generation of dancers in the art form. The Shumka School of Dance trains over 200 young dancers using North America’s only syllabus for Ukrainian dance, in addition to contemporary movement and RAD ballet instruction. Studia Shumka is a bridging program between the Shumka School and Shumka that focuses on training and performing experience. Shumka also offers Ukrainiandance and RAD-based fitness classes for seniors and adults. Shumka is based in the Shumka Dance Centre nestled between the Ice District and Brewery District of downtown Edmonton. For more information, visit shumka.com.
Ryan Parker Photography
Established in Edmonton in 1959, the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers is Canada’s only professional Ukrainian dance company. Shumka presents dance-theatre touring productions, as well as intimate concert repertoire across the country and around the world. Seen by millions on international television broadcasts, the company has presented command performances for Queens, Prime Ministers, and Presidents, and have performed alongside the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Julie Andrews. Along with Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera, Shumka is honoured to be a resident company of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Nutcracker Kids Donors Thank you to the many generous donors who have supported Dance Victoria’s 2023 Nutcracker Kids Campaign (As at November 22, 2023)
Nutcracker Kids Campaign Co-Chairs:
Nutcracker Kids Support:
Much gratitude to RBC for their generous support of the Sugar Plum Party. This experience adds extra magic to the performance and enhances this timeless tradition for all the little ones.
Anonymous x 9 Nicole Ardiel Lynne Bain Mavis Begg Barbara Benton Penny Brand Paul & Sharon Bundon Elena Buscher Dawn Connolly Catherine Etmanski Ann Gallagher Mark & Diana Gillis Margaret Godfrey Darlene Hammell Isabel Hansen Susan K.E. Howard and Gregory Krantz In memory of Starlett Craig Sylvia Jarvis Charles Joerin & H. Grant Sullivan Nancy Kirkbride Whitney Laughlin Marilyn Lutzmann Martha MacDonnell Keith & Jennifer MacLeod
Arabella Martin Christina McCarthy Marilyn McCrimmon Sarah Mcewen Lois McNabb Kevin Mills Sara Neely David & Mandy Niddrie Roy Nikaido Jean Orr Merv Porath Jenny Reid J M Ross Susan Ross Douglas Seneshen W.K. Shearer Susan Snell Sandra Stott Patricia Taylor Iris Thomson-Glen Margaret Thornthwaite Catherine Traer Stephanie Ustina Amanda Vasilakopoulos Ross & Jane Woodland Victoria Wray
(Top): Marc J Chalifoux; (bottom) Ian Jackson, Epic Photography
Victoria Symphony Christian Kluxen, Music Director Sean O’Loughlin, Principal Pops Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia, Associate Conductor Eric Gallipo, Orchestra Manger Mark Sutherland, Operations Manager Misako Sotozaki, Principal Librarian
Nutcracker
Flutes
Trombones
Giuseppe Pietraroia, Conductor
Rachel Tormann, Acting Principal Emily Phernambucq Mary Byrne
Brad Howland, Principal Chris Spidel
Oboes
Bob Fraser
Aidan Dugan, Acting Principal Russell Bajer
Tuba
Violins Terence Tam, Concertmaster Tori Gould, Principal Second Violin Cory Balzer Müge Büyükçelen Tyson Doknjas Kimberly Stork Michele Kwon Emily Salmon Christopher Stork Misako Sotozaki
English Horn Russell Bajer
Clarinets David Boutin-Bourque, Principal Jennifer Christensen
Violas
Bassoons
Kenji Fusé, Principal Stacey Boal Kay Cochran
Jennifer Gunter, Principal Anne Power
Celli Brian Yoon, Principal Hannah Craig Joyce Ellwood
Mike Oswald, Acting Principal Sam McNally Dan Moses Jean Poynter
Basses
Trumpets
Mary Rannie, Principal Darren Buhr
Ryan Cole, Principal David Michaux
Horns
Bass Trombone
Nick Atkinson, Acting Principal
Timpani Julian Jeun, Acting Principal
Percussion Aaron Mattock, Acting Principal
Harp Annabelle Stanley
Celeste Robert Holliston
Sell your home. Support Dance Victoria. Choose a DFH realtor below and mention Dance Victoria when you buy or sell your property. Ten percent of the realtor’s commission helps bring the World’s Best Dance to our community. Rosemary & Gary Victoria Homes Team
Maureen Vincent maureenvincent68@gmail.com 250-886-5546
homes@rosemaryandgary.ca 250-477-7291
John Melvin
Dorothee Friese
john@johnmelvinproperties.ca 250-477-7291
dorothee@shaw.ca 250-477-7291
Terry Moore tlmoore@shaw.ca 250-477-7291
Katie Wilson katie@dfh.ca 778-677-0982
DANCE VICTORIA Board of Directors President: Colette Baty Vice President: Brendan Ralfs Secretary: Sarah Millard Treasurer: Joost Pelt Directors: Kemi Craig, Linley Faulkner, Marlon Murr, Philip Pierce, Carrie Smart
Staff Executive Director: Gillian Jones General Manager: Dayna Szyndrowski Development & Operations Manager: Shireen McNeilage Marketing Manager: Anne-Sophie Cournoyer Production Manager: Holly Vivian Community Engagement Manager: Larissa Sharma Artist Programs & Studio Manager: Kiera Shaw Graphic Design: Rayola Creative Advertising Sales: Bonnie Light Advertising
Dance Victoria Studios 111 – 2750 Quadra St., Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 P: 250-595-1829 F: 250-590-7209 info@dancevictoria.com
Dance Victoria acknowledges the support of: SUGAR PLUM PARTY
NUTCRACKER KIDS CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS
NUTCRACKER KIDS SUPPORT
VENUE
MEDIA
Dance Victoria acknowledges the support of the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society for our Nutcracker Kids ticket campaign.
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