Prima-Ballerina, Choreographer, Teacher, Dance Studio Owner, Producer, Artistic Director. Born Romana Pryjma in Peremyshl, in Galicia region of Ukraine (now Przemyśl, Poland), the daughter of Eustachius Pryjma (killed in WWII) and Iwanna Ignatia Shmerykowska (Concert pianist - Vocalist) aka Madame Baroness, later aka Joanna Pryma.
Roma was a classically trained prima-ballerina and with time, a choreographer, teacher, dance studio owner, producer and artistic director. She grew up in the city of L'viv Ukraine, where her future career started at age five, when she attended her first dance hall. At the age of eight, she entered the School of Rhythmic Dance in L'viv, under the direction of Emile Jacques-Dalcroze. Later, she also attended the School of Ballet of the L'viv Opera and then graduated from the School of Modern Dance, which taught using Vigmanivsk methodology of M. Bronisska. By age 13, Roma had already danced with the L'viv Opera - in operas such as "Aida," "Carmen," "Favist," and ballets like "Don Quixote," "Serbok Pereti," and others. Her full span with the L'viv Opera was from 1939 to 1944. After which, when she and her mother, unknowing the fate of her father who was away fighting in WWII, they were forced to leave L'viv for the then safer territory of Austria. After settling in Vienna, Roma went to study under the direction of Greta Wiental, and after three years, graduated with honors from the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Subsequently, in the years 1947 to 1949, she became a soloist for the Ballet Troope of the National Theater in Innsbruck and also Salzburg. Taking the time and opportunity to improve her knowledge and technique under the choreography of G. Kreutzberg. In 1949, Roma and her mother took their given opportunity to immigrate to Canada. Shortly after their arrival in North America in 1949, and through most of 1951, Roma performed with the Royal Ballet in Winnipeg, and later with the Montreal theater of another famous ballerina Ruth Sorel. In 1951 she immigrated once again, along with her mother, to the city of New York. After settling down for good, they both became naturalized citizens of the United States. All the while, her carreer continued, dancing with the infamous dance troupe of Martha Graham and with the accompionment of her mother, carryied out a concert tour, performing original programs of "Dances and Characters of Ukraine" in cultural centers and theaters throughout Canada and the Americas. Then for five years, toured Europe and large cities of the United States. It was during their European tour, that while in Rome in 1963, Roma married her beloved husband, Yurij Bohachewskyj. Who was a handsome, talented and already well-known Ukrainian bass-baritone opera singer. The young couple soon afterwards, shifted to a joint tour of Italy, and then later Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
By 1964, they had already returned to New York City, where Roma established her own School of Ballet and Ukrainian folk dance in New York City, Yonkers and Newark New Jersey. As her school grew in both acceptance and popularity - with her talented students, she choreographed and presented great Ballet productions – "Cinderella," "Apr Fern," "The Adventures of Hooper." As a choreographer and director, she gravitated to presenting dramatic, expressive art in which she tried to uncover the mysteries of human subconscious. Yet at the same time, and extremely skillfully, used her dance individuality, combining it with her classical training and the Ukrainian folklore that she was so familiar with culturally. In the summer months, Roma lead annual summer dance-camps for both children and teens, and also workshops, and Ukrainian dances, which became very popular among all the youth and parents amongst Ukrainian diaspora. By 1978, already a busy mother of two, she created yet another project for herself. Roma took on the roll as Artistic Director of "Syzokryli" Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble. In 1992, Roma's long cherished dream as a Ukrainian dancer was finally fulfilled – she, together with her ensemble Syzokryli and her two children, was able to visit her native land once more. Plus the added bonus of also performing in grand and historic cities such as her hometown of L'viv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and the capital city of Kyiv. Which in 1992, were finally all cities, within a long overdue independent Ukraine. Some of Roma's very own dance choreographies were - Strakhittia Vijny (The Horrors of War), Chaika (Seagull), Rusalka (Mermaid), and Ikona-Matir Bozha (Icon-Mother of God). She also staged productions of Cinderella, in 1967 and Tsvit Papparoti (Fern Flower) in 1971.