The high flying leaps of the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers will be seen at Vanier Hall Saturday, October 27.
Brenden Kuzma,, formerly of the Prince George Yalenka dancers, presenters of the show, is part of the troupe of about 40 dancers coming to Prince George.
Kuzma knew early in his dance lessons that traditional Ukrainian dance was something he would take to the next level.
When his instructor told him that if he worked hard he could audition for Shumka, the elite professional dance company in Edmonton, he quickly made that his goal.
"It was a big leap going from Prince George to Edmonton," said Kuzma. "I wanted to be the first one from Prince George to join the Shumka dance troupe."
Shumka presents Ukrainian dance combining classical and contemporary movement to create dramatic story lines.
"During the show there's two acts, first you get to see some very high action traditional Ukrainian dance," said Kuzma. "The harvest is a very important part of the Ukrainian culture so you get to see several different styles of Ukrainian dance celebrating the harvest from the many regions of the Ukraine. The next part is a lot more modern and tells of the cycle of life - birth, experiences of life, including love, war, death and rebirth. It will make you smile. It will make you cry. It's still Ukrainian but it appeals to a wider audience. As with every art form, it has to grow and evolve."
Shumka is a not-for-profit society and celebrated its 50 anniversary in 2009. The show created for the momentous occasion is so popular, it's still being performed.
During the show the audience will enjoy numbers including Harvest Angels, Pathways to Hopak, A Cobbler's Gift, Eve of Kupalo - a Midsummer's Night Masque and the 50th Anniversary Hopak.
"For this show I will be doing the split jumps in the Hopak," said Kuzma, who is happy to be returning to Prince George. "I am so incredibly excited to be coming back - I am bouncing off the walls."
Tickets are at Studio 2880 by calling 250-563-2880.
