Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club

Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club
Artistic Director

DAVE GANERT

Biography

With forty-one years of Ukrainian Dance to his credit, Dave Ganert has become one of Canada's leading choreographers and director. Mr. Ganert’s extensive accumulated training in Ukrainian, ballet, character and modern dance can be seen in many of his creations around the world. Over the course of his career, Mr. Ganert has instructed 19 dance schools to over 3,250 students, instructed workshops all over Canada, United States, Ukraine and China to various ages and has adjudicated multiple festivals across the country.

In 1991, Mr. Ganert had the privilege of joining the world renowned Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. With Shumka Dave Ganert has performed in over 800 shows locally, nationally and around the world. One choreographic and performance highlight was the touring production of A Royal Christmas when Mr. Ganert joined Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charlotte Church and Andrea Bocelli with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, Westminster Choir, the Kiev Ballet, and artists from the Bolshoi, Royal Ballet of London, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet which toured throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Ganert is also the first Canadian director to work with the Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble from Kiev, Ukraine.

In addition to dancing 23 years with Shumka, Mr. Ganert served as Shumka’s Resident Choreographer for 13 years, Principle for 11 years, Associate Artistic Director for 7 years and Artistic Director for 6 years. Along with the many productions Mr. Ganert was a part of creating; he co-developed an extensive summer dance program for youth and created Canada’s first Intensive Division of Ukrainian Dance. Mr. Ganert’s innovative artistic talents and choreography has also gained him much recognition and numerous scholarships and awards throughout Canada including Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal honoring his significant contributions and achievements by a Canadian.

Mr. Ganert’s passion and refreshing perspective to Ukrainian Dance continues to captivate the admiration of audiences all over the globe including Jean-Marc Généreux, of So you Think You Can Dance Canada, which Mr. Ganert collaborated with in a tribute piece recognizing the struggle and celebrating the triumph of people living with Multiple Sclerosis. In 2013 Dave joined the Edmonton Opera as a movement consultant in Eugene Onegin, was the choreographer for the 2015 production of The Merry Widow and guest choreographer for the 2020 production of The Marriage of Figaro. Mr. Ganert currently directs the St. Paul Desna Ukrainian Dancers & Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club.

Dave Ganert is a psychology graduate at the University Of Alberta where he spent two years working with Alberta Family and Social Services working with youth and was part of the suicide prevention team. Prior to focusing on Child Psychology, Dave spent time in Social Psychology.

Mr. Ganert continues to share his high technical standard and creative talents, boundless energy and commitment to a rich culture which has made him a much respected member of the arts community. His natural talent for movement and composition combined with his incredible passion for dance and culture will continue to grow and guide his artistic success. Dave is excited to be a part of the Athabasca Ukrainian Folk Dance Club.