Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey and special guest, Les Sereda, Artistic Director The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. In this episode of “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey, join host Joanne Carey as she chats with Special Guest, Les Sereda, Artistic Director of The Ukrainian Shumka Dancers who will bring the Canadian company to the US to dance alongside The National Ballet of Ukraine on its East Coast Tour. Joanne and Les discuss his beginnings as a dancer and how it lead him to becoming Artistic Director. The conversation touches on the importance of preserving Ukrainian heritage through folk traditions as well as the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the dance community, the role of art in times of crisis, and the upcoming collaboration with the National Ballet. Les shares insights on the challenges and beauty of storytelling through dance, emphasizing the need for cultural exchange and the evolution of artistic expression. The tour promises to be an experience like no other! More about The Ukranian Shumka Dancers of Canada ⁠https://www.shumka.com/⁠ Les Sereda began his dance career at the age of 12 and joined Shumka four years later. He toured Canada and the United States in Shumka’s productions of Absolutely Shumka and Cinderella and was honoured to be one of the performers in Sulyma Productions’ The Nutcracker, A Ballet Fantasy for three consecutive years. During Shumka’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, he received a Membership with Distinction award from Shumka for his ongoing dedication to the company. In 1993 Les trained at the Ukrainian Academy of Dance in Lviv, Ukraine, focusing on both ballet and character training along with regional choreography and music. This immersive experience was a guiding force, influencing his future artistic journey and ongoing commitment to the art form. Over the years, Les developed a truly collaborative spirit, forging relationships with international artists to create original choreography, music, projections and costumes that have influenced the evolving world vision of Ukrainian dance. Serving as the Artistic Director of Viter Ukrainian Dancers from 2004 to 2010, his direction forged new ground for the company guiding the creation of the song and dance style that is a hallmark of the ensemble today. In 2018, Les directed Shumka’s newest work, Mosquito’s Wedding: All You Need is Love. An enchanting Disney-esque production with a relevant universal message for today, it successfully speaks to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Les is also owner, director and producer of Blue Toque Productions, an Edmonton based media company specializing in telling stories through documentary-style films. In 2019, Les completed a behind-the-scenes documentary on the journey to Shumka’s Ancestors & Elders. Through his years of experience as a dancer, choreographer, director, visual designer and film maker, Les has developed a holistic sense of art and its creation. With a deep respect for Shumka’s 60-year history, he is ready to take the company into the future…changing its leaves while keeping intact its roots. The National Ballet of Ukraine East Coast tour kicks off Oct 8th in Washington, D.C. traveling the East Coast and culminates in Orlanda Florida, Oct 30th. Get Tickets Here: ⁠⁠⁠https://nationalukraineballet.com/⁠⁠ You won't want to miss this! Portions of the proceeds from the tour—from ticket purchases, merchandise, and individual donations—will benefit HUMANITE ⁠⁠https://www.humanite.org/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and Ukraine House, ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ukrainehouse.us/⁠ ⁠⁠ Organizations dedicated to restoring and improving the lives of Ukrainian families affected by the war. Follow “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey wherever you listen to your podcasts. ⁠⁠https://dancetalkwithjoannecarey.com/⁠ Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. Please leave us review about our podcast! “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey "Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

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