Since 1976, Ukrainian
Dancers from all over the United States, Canada, and abroad have
flocked to a secluded mountain resort in New York, hoping to work
with master teacher and choreographer Roma Pryma Bohachevsky. While
celebrated for her choreographies, and renowned for her classes,
her summer workshops would provide the only exposure to world-class
Ukrainian Folk Dancing for many in this country. In 1978, Mrs. Bohachevsky
answered the dream of many, and founded Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance
Ensemble, fulfilling the need for a premiere Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
in the United States.
Based in New York City,
Syzokryli has performed extensively throughout the United States,
having graced some of its finest stages including (in NY) Alice
Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the Felt Forum
at Madison Square Garden, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music; (in
PA) the Academy of Music and Robin Hood Dell East; (in NJ) the PNC
Arts Center and Newarks' Symphony, and Constitution Hall in Washington
D.C. In 1992, Syzokryli concluded a highly successful and critically
acclaimed tour of Ukraine, appearing in opera houses in Ukraine's
major cities, including Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
The passionate members
of the ensemble come from varying backgrounds of instruction, with
several actively performing with other dance companies across the
U.S. Many members, however, come straight from one of Mrs. Bohachevsky's
many schools, which are spread out across the tri-state area. These
schools have produced principle dancers for dance companies all
over the world (as well as several television and film performers).
Several current members of Syzokryli continue this legacy by providing
after-school instruction in many more communities. There are currently
several hundred students being instructed by members of the Syzokryli
family.
Syzokryli has earned
a reputation as one of the world's finest Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensembles
because of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky's visionary choreographies, often
tackling serious subject matter such as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster,
the murder of Ukrainian songwriter Vasyl Ivasiuk, and the 9-11 terror
attack on our city and the pluralism it represents.
Nurtured
by their artistic director and choreographer, the Syzokryli Dancers
all share tremendous love for their art form, and express that passion
the moment they set foot on the stage. Whether on the road, rehearsing
at home in New York City, or at one of our Summer Dance Workshops,
the ensemble is constantly working at preserving the rich traditions
of Ukrainian Folk Dance and broadening the range of expression through
our unique choreographies.
