Shumka dancers rehearse ‘high-energy’ version of The Nutcracker ballet

Shumka dancers rehearse for 'high energy' show as Canada's Ukrainian Nutcracker returns to Edmonton

Shumka dancers take to the stage with a Ukrainian spin on a Christmas classic, bringing Canada’s Ukrainian Nutcracker to Edmonton this weekend.

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“It has the feel of the classical ballet with some of the traditional music, but of course, we’ve put in a whole bunch of Ukrainian flair to it,” Tasha Orysiuk, Artistic Director of Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, told CTV News Edmonton after rehearsals on Friday.

Orysiuk said the ballet will be “high energy” and include a first act with a children’s dance, a “fun” ballroom scene, and a Ukrainian folk dance called the Mazeppa Hopak.

“It is a wonderful, warm Christmas tradition that lots of families like to come out and see, so it’s very important to everyone,” she added, saying the dancers look forward to performing the piece every year.

More than 70 Shumka dancers, youth from Shumka School of Dance, and the choristers from Edmonton’s Kapella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir will be featured in the show, which takes place at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday will feature two shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will be one show at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets can be purchased online.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch