Text Box: 'Polonez' takes its name from the beautiful Polonaise dance, which used to introduce all important balls and events in the courts of the Polish Kings and which also became fashionable throughout Europe from the 16th to the 19th centuries. There has been a folk troupe in existence in Manchester since 1949. It was formed by ex-patriots who wanted to keep alive the traditions and culture of their homeland. The early years saw them performing sketches and musical plays, only later introducing dancing into their repertoire. The group was called 'MLody Polonez (Young Polonez)', but in 1987 it was rechristened 'Polonez Manchester' to reflect the variety of ages of the members spanning from the early teens to the 50s. Today 'Polonez' is a busy dance troop that travels throughout Britain, performing the majority of the time in North West England and North Wales at a variety of venues both small and large. These include parties, dances and festivals. It has even portrayed the dancers in Smetana's opera 'the Bartered Bride' on 3 occasions for 3 different operatic societies. One of the highlights of the year for 'Polonez' is the annual trip to Penhros, North Wales. This is to entertain the residents of the Polish retirement home. 'Polonez' is also proud to perform within its own community at traditional occasions such as 'Dozynki (Harvest Festival)'; performing annually at Polish Clubs throughout Greater Manchester. These festivals are also performed across a wider area such as Sheffield and Northwich. Polonez has many talented members both longstanding and more recent, often spanning two generations within families. Over the years has amassed a wide variety of regional Polish dance costumes, many made by the members themselves, whilst others are imported directly from Poland. 'Polonez' is privileged to have it's dances choreographed by Pani Zenia Stepowicz from Lublin, Poland and tries to maintain a high level of authenticity throughout its repertoire of songs and dances. In 1999, 'Polonez' celebrated its 50th anniversary and as part of the festivities took part in the International Polish Folklore Festival in Rzeszów, Poland, a feat it repeated in 2005, and in 2001 was proud to be on home turf for the 4th Polish Folklore Festival of Great Britain, at the Lowry Centre, Salford Quays, Salford. Horizontal Scroll: Polonez was established in 1949 by ex-patriots who wanted to keep alive the traditions and culture of their homeland...