A Royal Christmas

(January 14, 2003) . . . Sulyma Productions’ THE NUTCRACKER, a ballet fantasy expands the meaning of “international collaboration” after touring 15 North American cities in “A ROYAL CHRISTMAS” starring a superstar cast led by Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church and is produced by Princeton Entertainment. Bringing together over 150 dancers, musicians and singers from Canada, the United States, London, Wales, Kyiv and Moscow, THE NUTCRACKER was a major highlight of one of the largest holiday extravaganzas ever produced.

Sulyma Productions Inc. (SPI) brought together the finest of dancers from The Kyiv Ballet, London’s Royal Ballet Covent Garden, the Bolshoi Ballet and of course Canada’s SHUMKA Dancers. As the Grand Rapid’s Press noted: “Excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker (a ballet fantasy) were a big part of the show.” Performing to numerous sold out crowds amongst venues like Boston’s Fleet Center, Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, Ottawa’s Corel Centre, Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena and New York’s Nassau Coliseum, The Nutcracker’s SHUMKA Hopak was undoubtedly the unexpected star and darling of the show:

“Shumka…gave the show the most dazzle.” (Boston Globe)

“SHUMKA, SOPRANO (CHARLOTTE CHURCH), A ROYAL TREAT… One provided the kick and the other the sparkle. Shumka dancers…brought on the appreciative catcalls” (Toronto Globe & Mail)

“The biggest advantage of Act 2 was more expressive dance…The Shumka Dancers stirring the audience…” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

“In the end, it turns out that Chris and Julie are the King and Queen of Christmas, and Santa, one supposes, is a Shumka.” (Toronto Sun)

Sulyma Productions has been riding this whirlwind tour with great artistic expectations and is pleased with the ongoing relationship established between SPI and A Royal Christmas producers, Princeton Entertainment. This tour has been a wonderful opportunity not only for the presentation of the talents of SHUMKA and the Kyiv Ballet, but also for the opportunity for SPI to work with Dame Julie Andrews, the astounding Christopher Plummer, London’s Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and Conductor George Daugherty.