Tasha Orysiuk’s Ukrainian dance group inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame

By Joan Janzen

Tasha Orysiuk’s dance group, Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame on November 9 at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in Winnipeg. Tasha (née Kanasevich), the group’s Artistic Director, is originally from Eatonia, where her love of dancing first began.

Tasha (née Kanasevich) Orysiuk’s dance group, Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame on November 9 at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in Winnipeg. Tasha, the group’s Artistic Director, is originally from Eatonia. SUBMITTED

Tasha (née Kanasevich) Orysiuk. SUBMITTED

The ceremony bestowed a national honour on the group for their unique style and lasting impact on Canadian dance. Shumka combines explosive Ukrainian high-kicks with elegant ballet movements and is Canada’s only professional Ukrainian dance company. Having shared Ukrainian culture for 65 years, they are now honoured to be the first group of dance artists from Edmonton to receive this national recognition.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have a career I love, working alongside an exceptional production and administrative team, and extraordinarily dedicated, hardworking dancers,” Tasha said. “This season marks my first year as Artistic Director of the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers.”

The Ukrainian Nutcracker tour began in November with four performances in Victoria, presented with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. This was followed by two performances in Medicine Hat, two in Camrose, and three final performances in Edmonton.

The Nutcracker production includes 50 Shumka dancers, 19 choir members from Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir, and 18 children from the Shumka School of Dance, for a total of 87 performers.

The company has been an important part of Tasha’s life for many years. She joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in Edmonton in 1996, touring nationally in acclaimed productions. She was selected among 14 Shumka dancers to tour the Eastern U.S. with The Nutcracker – A Ballet Fantasy in 1997 and 1999.

Tasha joined Shumka’s Artistic Team in 2015 and became Shumka’s Creative Director, focusing on dancer training, choreography, and artistic mentorship. She is an accomplished Canadian dance educator, adjudicator, and choreographer, with extensive credentials and training across multiple disciplines under internationally renowned artists in Canada, the U.S., England, and Ukraine.

“In addition to my role as Artistic Director, I teach at the Shumka School of Dance, helping to train and mentor the next generation of Shumka Dancers,” she explained. For dancers 55 and older, Tasha offers a ballet program and leads Seniors Can Shumka.

“The class has grown into a vibrant community of 45 dancers, ranging in age up to 89 years,” she said. “It’s often described as my Monday morning party.”

This spring, Shumka will be taking another major production on tour. “We will be continuing our commitment to sharing Ukrainian dance with audiences across Canada and beyond,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, all her family and friends from her hometown of Eatonia and surrounding area wish to extend their heartfelt congratulations for her most recent honour!