PROJECT DETAILS
CHOREOGRAPHER: Roman Mykyta
COMPOSER: Traditional, arranged by Gerdan–Kaleidoscope of World Music
PREMIERE: September 16, 2023 | Ballet in the Garden, Historic Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, MD | Performed by The Ballet Theatre of Maryland
CAST: 6 Women, 1 Man
RUN TIME: 6 minutes
SYNOPSIS:
Roksolana is a choreographic miniature inspired by the remarkable life of Anastasia Lisowska, known to history as Roksolana or Hürrem Sultan. Captured from her Ukrainian homeland and brought to the court of Suleiman the Magnificent, her intelligence, resilience, and joyful spirit elevated her from captive to the Sultan’s legal wife and trusted advisor.
Rather than recounting every chapter of her life, the choreography reflects on her extraordinary transformation and enduring legacy. Through movement shaped by strength, dignity, and grace, Roksolana honors one of the most influential women of the Ottoman Empire and a historical figure whose story continues to resonate within Ukrainian cultural memory.
ANASTASIA LISOWSKA
Born in the Ukrainian town of Rohatyn, Anastasia Lisowska was captured during a Tatar raid and taken to the Ottoman court. There she became known as Hürrem Sultan.
BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION
FROM CAPTIVE TO QUEEN
Roksolana’s rise placed her at the center of Ottoman court life, where she became Suleiman the Magnificent’s legal wife and trusted advisor. Her elevation above Mahidevran Hatun gives the miniature its central dramatic tension.
A SHARED LEGACY
Remembered in both Ukrainian and Ottoman history, Roksolana remains a complex and compelling figure whose life bridges cultures, politics, and identity.