The Ukrainian-Infused Nutcracker Spectacular 

For over 50 years, the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers have brought the gifts of their heritage to Canadian shores as the country's only Ukrainian dance company. Given Tchaikovsky's time spent in the country and his founding of the Kiev Music Conservatory, it makes it all the more poignant that the outfit turned their talents to their very own rendition of the composer's cherished Nutcracker ballet, becoming a bonafide Edmonton Christmas tradition in the process. 

The company fuse the romantic era-icon's beloved score with classical ballet, Ukrainian character dance and folk dance, a well as traditional Ukrainian costumes, to tell the tale of pint-sized heroine Clara. When she is given a Nutcracker doll on Christmas eve and it miraculously comes to life, she is pulled into a whirlwind adventure that brings her face to face with the fearsome Mouse King, his fearsome followers and the resplendent Sugar Plum Fairy.