Last Saturday, eight pairs performed Stary Rzeszów at the Polish Community Council Ball at the Dom Syrena, Rowville. We received a brilliant response, where we were highly praised for our professionalism, our singing, and of course, our performance. Our youth certainly did POLONEZ proud: they danced beautifully, with all the energy and oomph required. We shall retain a memory of Joe Pawlicki running on, yelling “Hej chlopacy!” and our boys making this huge entrance from the bar at Rowville, Great stuff!
Here we see the 43rd Polish Debutante Ball in May, where we celebrated 50 years of Polish Debutante balls in Victoria, 1966 – 2016. It is an achievement, and not equaled by any other state in Australia. Congratulations to the debutantes!
PolArt 2015 Melbourne has arrived, flourished and,
within the twinkling of an eye, disappeared!
400 dancers on stage at Hamer hall, PolArt 2015 Melbourne,
during the Introduction of the Groups
They were a crazy, happy, busy eight days, mainly in the Melbourne CBD, of Polish culture at its best, of music, art, literature, folklore and theatre from all around Australia, New Zealand and Poland. Hope that you caught some of it at least.
Fifteen folkloric Groups from every state in Australia, and from New Zealand. Kujawy (Sydney), Kukułeczka (Perth), Lajkonik (Sydney), Łowicz (Melbourne), Lublin (Wellington, NZ), Oberek (Hobart), Obertas (Brisbane), Orlęta (Wellington, NZ), Podhale (Sydney), Polonez (Melbourne), Polonus (Christchurch, NZ), Syrenka (Sydney), Tatry (Adelaide), Wawel (Wollongong), Wisła (Brisbane).
Some of the innovations included the introduction of the Legacy awards, in which those performers who had participated in over 6 PolArts were recognized in a special ceremony, surprisingly about 10% of participants, and, a Children’s Day.
The Folkloric component included 4 major events, the artistic program for the Opening day at Federation square, and three folkloric concerts at the Drum theatre, Dandenong,Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds and Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre, Melbourne.
There was a mass introduction of the ensembles at Hamer hall, 400 performers on stage! And a choregraphed Finale for 200 performers.
Please enjoy the photos.
Waiting in the wings ….. to open the Folkloric program
with the szlachecki Polonez
and the Mazur ulanski
We also danced Lowicki
and a new version of the Highland dances from Zywiec,
which the audience loved
It’s all over!! So well done.
Children’s day at PolArt, Sredni POLONEZ danced
as did Maly POLONEZ
Our Zlote DOROTKI opened the POLONEZ program at PolArt on the Opening Day, with a medley of folksongs,
accompanied by Aleks Terech and Glen Darcy.
THE FINALE, the Krakowiak, (with 200 dancers on stage), from the Opera, Krakowiacy & Gorale, written in 1794, just before the third and final partition of Poland. Understandably full of nationalistic overtones, It was the first representation of a Polish national dance on stage.
Polart Melbourne
COME AND JOIN US
practices resume on Friday, 26th February,
at the Flemington Community Centre
and, of course, Backstage, THE magnificent 14!
The folkloric Technical and Venue control crew for all four Folkloric events
POLONEZ during the Group photo taken in the Hamer Hall auditorium,
Arts Centre, Melbourne
and, a sneak peak during the taking of the official Group photo
The PolArt 2015 Melbourne Steering Committee,
Great team, great teamwork,
Ks. Wieslaw Slowik, Basia Czech, Hania Terech, Jurek Bakowski, Natalie Gasz, Joasia Merwart, George Papuga, Basia Mozel, Andrzej Soszynski, Jan Szuba (President)
Box Office, Arts Centre, Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
VOLUNTEERS
We are aware that large numbers of your friends and family will be attending PolArt. We are hoping that they may have some spare time in which they can help PolArt 2015 Melbourne!
We are looking for general volunteers to help with the running of various events from backstage, to ushering and promotions. Therefore we are asking all of you to please forward the form below, far and wide (as well as hopefully complete it yourself), so we can get helpers on board. Once completed, please return the form as per the front page letter, either into the P.O Box address or via e-mail.
Whether you are willing to help for one day or many, PolArt is all about bringing our wonderful community together in celebration, so what a fantastic way to be involved.
we will require volunteers in all our showcased arts including
Folkloric
Literature
Visual Arts
Theater and
Music
so if you have a preference, please let us know. All applicants must be 18 years +, however with the large range of duties, there is definitely something to suit everyone. Natalie Gasz, Volunteers Co-ordinator
Email: ngasz@deakin.edu.au. Ph: 0421 953 420
POLART PROVISIONAL PROGRAM
This is the provisional PolArt Provisional program, of all PolArt events, ie, 120 events over the eight day Festival. You will be spoilt for choice!
We have always held close to our vision to bring to you The Melbourne experience, so you will notice that most events are in the Melbourne CBD, or within walking distance. The main exceptions are the two Folkloric concerts at the Drum Theatre at Dandenong, in the eastern suburbs, and the Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds, in the northern suburbs, where we are taking “PolArt to the people”, the two main areas of Poles in Melbourne.
A Program guide to PolArt will be launched at the Polish Festival @ Federation Square on Sunday, 15th November, when the PolArt Fringe Festival begins. This will include a daily listing of events.
A PolArtSouvenir book will also be available for purchase during the Main Festival itself.
Planning and working towards the Best PolArt ever!! to be held in Melbourne, at the end of this year.
The vision for this PolArt is to provide a Melbourne experience for our many interstate and overseas visitors and to make it easier for our local community to attend as many events as possible, as they will be held within close proximity to each other. All the Main events are in the Melbourne CBD, at the Melbourne Town Hall, Federation Square, the Arts Centre, Melbourne, including Hamer Hall and the Fairfax Theatre.
Some of those highlights will be the PolArt Opening day on Sunday, 27th at Federation Square, The Childrens’ day at Deakin Edge at Federation Square on Tuesday 29th December, the Gala concert at Hamer Hall on Sunday, January 3rd, and of course, New Year’s Eve at Flemington Racecourse.
Please note the Advertisement below, Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, 30th September.
Polonez recently performed at the President’s Ball, Polish Community Council of Victoria, at Dom Syrena, Rowville. Various distinguished guests, including the leader of the opposition, Matthew Guy, the local member of Parlt were present. Representatives of various ethnic groups including the Jewish and Hungarian groups were also in attendance. Polonez performed Nowy Sacz much to the crowds delight.
The Reunion was a great success, with many generations of Polonez dancing and mingling together.
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Some of the highlights were seeing so many well known and much loved Polonez faces over the years coming together one more time, a rousing performance of the Polonez of today dancing Nowy Sacz, the photos of yesteryear so beautifully displayed and providing such an amazing and popular attraction, the awarding of the the 10 years and over long service medals to current Polonez members, and our beautiful 50th anniversary cake highlighted amongst 50 golden balloons.
This would not have been possible without Ala Mielnik’s dedicated work. As I said at the Reunion, I would talk concert preparations at her, and she would reply with her Reunion issues to me. Thank you Ala, you made a big difference! Also thank you to Irena Kutypa, Kama Lesniak, Joe Pawlicki and Jasia Wierzbicka who helped with all the preparations over the week-end.
Thank you to everyone who made them so successful and such an inspiring memory of the Polonez 50th Anniversary Concert.
Six sections of Polonez came together as one to produce such a wonderful and unique occasion, Mały, Średni, Duży, Złote Dorotki, Złoty Polonez and the Kapela. Thank you Helenka, Zosia and Jurek!
Thank you to the Zloty Polonez contingent, who came together to celebrate with us, it was great fun, many aching muscles, corny jokes but well worthwhile. You are always welcome back Beata, Grazyna, Irena, Jennifer, Joasia, Lily, Sarah, Scarlett, Wanda, Andrew, Andrew, Joe, Sal and Tom. There was some serious dancing there.
Thank you also to the Polonez alumni who came to the concerts, it was touching to see so many well known faces and very much appreciated knowing you were in the audience.
