Since 1976, Ukrainian Dancers from all over the United States, Canada, and abroad have flocked to the secluded Soyuzivka Center 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
