EDITORIAL: Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky, 1927-2004 (05/30/04)

EDITORIAL

Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky, 1927-2004

This week the Ukrainian community was saddened to hear of the passing of Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky, the doyenne of Ukrainian dance, who left us at age 77.

A prima ballerina who began her career in her native Ukraine, she performed in the cultural capitals of the world, in cities throughout Europe, the United States, Canada and even Central America. Hers was a special gift - one that she shared with appreciative audiences in countless venues, as a recent glance at our files of news clippings revealed. She chose to share that gift with the next generation when she established her School of Ballet and Ukrainian Dance in 1963. Thus, she devoted herself to teaching for the next 40 years.

Ms. Pryma-Bohachevsky saw many an SRO audience in her day - both as a soloist and as a teacher. Our arts correspondent Helen Smindak wrote in one of her features about the famed choreographer and artistic director: "Ms. Pryma-Bohachevsky has skillfully woven Ukrainian culture with classical ballet to create an originally exquisite, stylized ethnic art of dance." The kaleidoscope of her choreography, as Ms. Smindak described it, encompassed full-length ballets and topical dances, including many on historic themes.

Older generations no doubt remember the stunning young dancer's solo recitals in which she told her audiences about Ukraine and its culture through dance. Her New York debut was on March 26, 1961, at Town Hall, where she performed a recital billed as "Dances and Characters of Ukraine." Writing in The Ukrainian Weekly, Lev Oleksandrovych noted: "Miss Pryma's performance, comprising 10 different numbers, each in a different and exquisite costume ... were extremely well-received by the audience. Virtually every number demanded a curtain call, and at intermission there seemed to be no end to flowers for the charming dancer."

Many of us of the next generation remember Ms. Pryma-Bohachevsky's colorful and exuberant ballet productions - a treat for us when we were growing up. Among these were "Kvit Paporoti" (1970) and "Peer Gynt" (1973). It was special to travel into New York with your parents for these shows. Plus, we got to see our friends performing on professional stages. How wonderful they looked in their elaborate costumes ... and how they danced!

Not to be forgotten were the splendid performances of Pani Roma's Syzokryli troupe, composed of her advanced dancers. The Syzokryli revealed the richness of Ukrainian folk dance by performing dances from all regions of Ukraine: Poltavschyna, Hutsulschyna, Bukovyna, Volyn, Lemkivschyna and more, and they presented the beauty, vitality and diversity of Ukrainian dance to Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian audiences alike.

There were also the annual appearances of Ms. Pryma-Bohachevsky's dance groups during the Ukrainian Festival presented on East Seventh Street by St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church. Sometimes it seemed her dancers were the entire show. Coming in all ages and sizes, from the tiniest 5-year-olds to high-school-age kids, they made every parent, and Pani Roma, very proud of their accomplishments.

From the Hopak and "Volynianka," to "Fight for Freedom" and "Icon," Ms. Pryma-Bohachevsky prided herself on always presenting Ukrainian culture on the highest level. She was a professional and expected perfection from her students. In addition, she worked hard to prepare a corps of young instructors who today are continuing what she had begun back in 1963.

This year Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky was to celebrate 40 years of teaching the art of dance to younger generations. In September the Ukrainian Institute of America was planning to present its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to her at a gala banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. In November her students of all ages are to appear at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in a special jubilee concert in tribute and thanks to their teacher and mentor.

Pani Roma has now passed on, but there is no doubt the show will go on. And Pani Roma's legacy, as well as her dream of handing down the beauty of Ukrainian dance to future generations, will live on.

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