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In 2009 Polonez celebrated its 60th birthday... |
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The Early Years
There has been a Polish folk dancing group in existence in Manchester since 1949. It is one of the oldest established groups in Great Britain.
It was started by expatriates, who were unable to return to Poland after the Second World War, due to the communist regime. They wanted to keep alive the culture and traditions of their homeland, through song and dance, and taking part in operettas and dramatic productions.
In the fifties, the group regularly represented Manchester in competitions and festivals, appearing in the Free Trade Hall Manchester, at Belle Vue, and at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In1953, the group had the honour of taking part in events to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. By 1954 there were 40 members in the group. In May 1957, the highlight of the year was a trip to Ireland to perform in Dublin and Cork. |
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1960s and 1970s
Throughout the 60s and 70s the group grew from strength to strength with many 1st generation Poles born here joining the group. During this time the group changed its name to “Młody Polonez” or “Young Polonaise”. The inspiration behind arousing a love for Polish folklore and a pride in possessing a Polish heritage was Stanisław Garbiak who ran the group from the late fifties to the sixties. Wenek Starczewski took over the leadership, followed by Roman Andrejczuk and Ric Gwizdek.
During this time and throughout the early years the group’s main mentor was Jarosław Żaba. Mr. Żaba was very active in the social and cultural life of the Polish community in Manchester. He was very supportive of the group, organising shows, both in Great Britain and abroad. He was instrumental in inviting choreographer Janina Śliwińska to work with the group and expand its repertoire. P. Śliwińska, left Lublin and her work with folklore groups to care for her invalid brother in Manchester. Several of the current members joined at this time and continue to dance today, some with their own children.
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1980s
The 1980s brought a change with the introduction of our Polish choreographer Pani Zenia Stepowicz , a friend of P. Śliwińska. P.Zenia first came to Manchester in 1979. Since then,she has been coming to Manchester to choreograph and teach new dances, raising standards and levels of authenticity. Sometimes staying for six months at a time,she has regularly renewed and refreshed the group’s repertoire. During the 80s Ellen Brzęczek, Romek Bzdęga and Elżunia Gwiazdowska led the group. |
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1990s
Polonez continued to thrive in the 1990s with successive generations of Poles joining the group, as older members left to take up university studies away from Manchester or to start families. During this time the group was led by Ellen Brzęczek, followed by Ewa Licata. In 1993 Polonez took part in the 1st Festival of Polish Folklore in Great Britain, where for the first time Polish folklore groups from around the country came together in the same spectacle. It was a chance to meet members from other groups and forge firm friendships. Polonez has taken part in every successive festival, sees it as a highlight and something that all members look forward to very much. In 1999 Polonez celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary with a Grand Ball and by participating in the International Polish Folklore Festival which is held every three years in Rzeszów, Poland. This was followed by a trip to Warsaw with the London group Karolinka, to perform in the main square and in Łazienki gardens in the “Theatre on the Lake”. It was a great privilege to be there and to be greeted very warmly as the children and grandchildren of heroes.
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2000s
Ewa Licata led the group into the new century followed briefly by Romek Bzdęga. In 2001 Polonez was pleased to be the host group for the 4th Festival of Polish Folklore in Great Britain, held at the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays, performing a brand new Lublin suite for the first time to a very welcoming home audience.
The early 2000s also saw the establishment of a constitution and new leadership team of Elżunia Gwiazdowska as Artistic Director and Krysia Majchrzakowska as Chair. Together they have taken Polonez to three British Festivals (2003, 2006, 2009) and two more festivals in Rzeszów, Poland (2005, 2008). Under their steady leadership Polonez has rejuvenated itself with fresh young and enthusiastic members joining the hard-working long-established ones. Several members have taken part in Polish dance courses in both Lublin and Rzeszów over the past 10 years to widen their knowledge and skills, and to ensure the future of Polonez.
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2009-present…
After almost 30 years Pani Zenia continues to visit Manchester regularly, so that the group can benefit from her teaching skills and innovative choreography.
Polonez was very excited to be host a Gala Concert to celebrate its 60th Anniversary. It was the first time the group had hosted such an event and the group was looking forward to sharing its large repertoire of costumes, songs and dances from around Poland, with a little help from Kabaret and Po Prostu Nowa Biesiada. The concert went down as a success. Polonez showed it was as strong as ever, performing to a sold out theatre.
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