The beat goes on, as young dancers prepare for first annual recital (03/19/06)

The beat goes on, as young dancers prepare for first annual recital

by Talia Danysh

NEW YORK - Week after week, season after season, year after year and decade after decade, young Ukrainians in the major New York metro area have danced to the familiar sounds of "one-two-three, one-two-three, one-two-three," as they learn new Ukrainian dance steps, refine familiar routines and prepare for the next recital.

This familiar beat has gone on with generations of Ukrainian children flocking to the streets of the Lower East Side to study dance at their beloved school. The beat began in 1964, when Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky started her School of Dance in New York inspired by her love of dance. Over the years the school has trained thousands of youngsters in ballet, as well traditional Ukrainian dance.

And the beat continues to the present day with a new generation of students eager to continue the tradition set by their parents, as evidenced in the packed dance classes on Lafayette Place every Saturday afternoon.

An integral part of the training of outstanding dancers and a showcase for their talents is performance. With this in mind, the Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Foundation will welcome spring by presenting the first in a series of annual performances: the Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky New York School of Dance in "Spring Dances - A Concert of Ukrainian Youth," on March 26. The program will be performed in St. George Academy auditorium at 215 E. Sixth St. between Second and Third avenues in New York City at 2 p.m.

The beat of "one-two-three" will be put to good use during all the dances, including the Zakarpatsky Tanok, the Kozachok and the ever-popular Hopak. The program was prepared by the director of the Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky New York School of Dance, Orlando Pagan, and his assistant, Larisa Pagan. The recital will feature all levels of the students from the New York school - from the very youngest beginners to the oldest most advanced group. Dressed in their colorful costumes, students will have the opportunity to put their intensive training into practice and delight audiences with their skills.

To add a different kind of beat to the concert, Prolisok, the girls' choir of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), has been invited to perform as a special musical guest. The choir, under the leadership of music director Andrij Stasiw, is composed of girls between the ages of 13 and 20 who promote Ukrainian culture through the beauty of traditional and modern Ukrainian songs.

The program will be moderated by Ania Bohachevsky Lonkevych, the executive director of the Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Foundation. Tickets for reserved seating are $10 and may be purchased prior to the performance by calling 212-533-0100. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.

In the meantime, as you walk down the streets of downtown New York, just listen and you're bound to hear that steady beat of "one-two-three" as our children practice and practice their steps, and grow to appreciate the artistry of their native dance.

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