Statement made on 19 October 2011 by Senator Tommy Banks (retired)
Hon. Tommy Banks:
Honourable senators, I, too, rise on a happy and congratulatory note. There are few Canadian attractions, theatrical or musical, that travel widely in the world playing in large soft-seat theatres to sold-out audiences. Even fewer have received a standing ovation at the end of every performance. For 50 years, Edmonton's and Canada's Ukrainian Shumka Dancers have been doing just that. "Shumka" means "whirlwind." Their performance presents a never-ending whirlwind of colour, music, power and grace.
The Shumka company returned home to Edmonton last September 15 following a triumphant six-week tour of China, during which they conducted 23 performances in 14 cities. It was one of the largest tours, if not the largest, ever undertaken in China by a Canadian dance company. The 41 dancers in the company wowed the audiences in those 14 Chinese cities with original dance and music celebrating their 50-year artistic evolution of dance in Canada, weaving together classical and contemporary movement, presenting dramatic storylines that are Shumka's distinctive style.
I know that all honourable senators will join me in congratulating tour producer Michael Sulyma; director Gordon Gordey; choreographers Dave Ganert, John Pichlyk, Victor Lytvynov and Tasha Orysiuk; composers and orchestrators — because they use a lot of original music — Gene Zwozdesky, Yuri Shevchenko, Andrij Shoost; and every member of the Shumka company on this signal international success.