Shumka's Ancestors & Elders Live at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium 2018

Two cultures. Different legacies. New connections. Shumka presents Ancestors & Elders… exploring the power of tradition and truth. In a world premiere production featuring a cast of Shumka Dancers and multidisciplinary Indigenous artists, we share a story of the first Ukrainian newcomers to Canada, exploring the shared values and respected differences between these hopeful settlers and the First Nations people they encounter in a new land. Survival, for both Indigenous and Ukrainian immigrant people in Alberta, often meant silence: lost stories and connections between our communities help us all survive tremendous loss and struggle. We use dance to begin to break that silence; to remember those who came before us, the traditions they instilled, and the truths they endured. The project also includes an Ancestors & Elders Study Guide here for use by teachers and students that focuses on curriculum-specific themes and activities. Developed by Shumka’s Education Committee, made up of current and retired educators, all Shumka Study Guides follow the Alberta Education curriculum. Ancestors & Elders is directed by Indigenous theatre artist Barry Bilinsky and Shumka’s Joseph Hoffman, with a creative team of over 100 Alberta-based designers, artists, story-tellers, musicians and dancers.