From afar, the dancers of Syzokryli look like dolls with floral halos—vinki—around their heads. Up close, their faces tell a different, fiercer story. Today the women of this Ukrainian dance company have come together to perform at a small studio a few blocks from Union Square. The modest room, packed with roughly 11 women ranging from their early teens to their late 30s, gets blisteringly hot after each routine. The footwork is intricate, fast, and executed with almost military precision.
” In national dances like the hopak, men historically perform sets of gravity-defying acrobatics, and the male dancers can easily dominate the stage. “People think women are weak, dainty, and delicate, but wanted to show what they really are,” says Shmerykowsky. “Powerful, graceful, and a force to be reckoned with. The women aren’t just there to stand and look pretty. They are also moving and active.” The name Syzokryli itself reflects the tough but beautiful ethos of the company.