Music of contemporary ukrainian composers in the ballet repertoire of the canadian ensemble “Shumka”

Abstract

The article examines the specificity of cultural relations between Ukraine and Canada through the lens of ballet art, which remains an underexplored area within Ukrainian diaspora studies. Particular attention is given to the Canadian dance ensemble Shumka, which since its founding in 1959 has become a symbol of Ukrainian choreographic culture in Canada and an example of its integration into the multicultural environment of the country. The purpose of the study is to analyze the integration of music by contemporary Ukrainian composers into the ballet repertoire of the Shumka ensemble. The research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses dominant elements of musicological, cultural, and art historical analysis. It is emphasized that the traditional preservation of cultural forms, typical of diaspora communities, is gradually being transformed through collaborations with contemporary Ukrainian artists, especially composers, whose work opens new pathways for safeguarding and revitalizing national identity. The research focuses on an analysis of ballet productions created as a result of Shumka’s collaboration with Ukrainian composers Yurii Shevchenko, Andrii Shust, and Oleksandr Rodin, which demonstrate a wide range of approaches – from folkloric color to a synthesis of academic and experimental elements. The study identifies key tendencies in the work of contemporary Ukrainian composers within the cultural field of the diaspora. The role of music in shaping the ensemble’s stage imagery and its impact on the perception of Ukrainian art in Canada is highlighted. The article concludes that such artistic collaborations are of strategic importance for maintaining Ukrainian cultural presence worldwide, as they combine tradition with innovation, diaspora experience with contemporary academic practices. The results of the study open new perspectives for further exploration of the role of music and choreography in preserving and renewing the cultural identity of Ukrainians abroad, while also demonstrating how art becomes an instrument of dialogue between Ukraine and Canada.