NAME OF NEWSLETTER??

IN THIS ISSUE:
 

•Highlights

• Feature Article
• Coming up!
• What have we been up to?

• Artistic news
• Polanie tips…
• Announcements
 

Yes, it is new this year! ‘Polanie Polish Song & Dance Association’ is starting a quarterly newsletter.  This newsletter will posted every March, June, September and November on our website (www.polanie.ca) as well as sent out to everyone on our mailing list.  In the future to view the newsletter just click on the NEWSLETTER link on our website or e-mail Kasia at km.stevens@shaw.ca to be placed on the ‘Polanie’ mailing list.  Conversely, if you are on the mailing list and would like to be removed, you can also e-mail your request to Kasia.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY READING THE NEWSLETTER!

To help us come up with a newsletter name click here.

… be sure to check our website at www.polanie.ca for regular updates and details on performances and events as they are made available!

    Our Current Fundraiser

Performances

June 15 & 16 at The Playhouse Theatre in downtown Calgary

*Tickets will be available very soon, sometime in April!! Sales will be through the Vertigo box office (www.vertigotheatre.com), and through Polanie dancers!

This self-produced repertoire show, will celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of Polanie and the 5^th Anniversary of Krakusy, where our ensembles will be joined by special guest artists, the Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of Regina.

Administrative Business

We are currently working on creating a database and compiling a mailing list for Polanie… if you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Kasia Stevens at km.stevens@shaw.ca. We promise not to send junk mail! We just want to keep our supporters informed on what’s going on with our dance ensembles.

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FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 

Dear Readers and Supporters of Polanie,

Thank you for taking the time and interest to read our very first issue of what will become a quarterly newsletter of all things Polanie! Through this, we hope to keep you informed on the most current and important happenings of our three performing dance ensembles: Polanie, Polanie Jr. and Krakusy. This year seemed like the perfect time to initiate a newsletter, as in 2007 Polanie celebrates its 30-year anniversary and to mark this occasion, we are preparing for a special June 15^th/16^th show at the Playhouse Theatre, as well as for three new festivals at which we will perform for the first time..... 2007/2008 will be one of the busiest, if not the busiest, in Polanie’s 30 year history, and we need the help of our supporters to make this very exciting time of opportunities possible!

Our extremely busy year ahead will begin on May 27th, when Polanie will take the stage for the first time at Calgary’s renowned Lilac Festival.  The following weekend, on June 1^st/2^nd, we will travel eastward to Regina to perform for the first time at their Mosaic Festival. On June 14^th, our special guests from Regina, the Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, will arrive in Calgary for our dress/tech rehearsal at the Playhouse Theatre.... and then on June 15^th/16^th Polanie will culminate this season’s hard work with a gala concert celebrating our 30^th Anniversary. It won’t end their though! The weekend after our anniversary concerts, Polanie will once again highlight the Polish Bazaar at Queen of Peace Polish Parish, and a week later, Canada Day celebrations. At the end of August, the Krakusy and Polanie Jr ensembles will both attend one-week dance camps at Sylvan Lake.

To say good-bye to summer and welcome a new season, Polanie will entertain audiences for the first time ever at the Kimberly Folk Festival on the Labour Day long weekend. That same month, we will traditionally perform at the prestigious Spruce Meadows Masters, and in October, we will once again host our annual Masquerade Ball. If that wasn’t enough already, the beginning of 2008 will be a very busy time for us, as we will present Calgary audiences with a surprise theatre show in Calgary’s hottest new theatre, The Grand; this brand new show will cross the traditional boundaries of Polish folk dance and open the door to new possibilities of performance for Polanie’s future. As 2008 will begin, we will once again quickly see spring come, and another cycle of the festival season will repeat itself, ending with the favourite and most prestigious festival of all, the International Festival of Polish Folk Dance Ensembles in Rzeszow, Poland.

... and these, dear friends, are just the highlights of our artistic endeavours for the next 15 months. As always, many more performance opportunities will fill our busy schedule, and if you add that to non-stop fundraisers and administrative matters, it quickly becomes very apparent that Polanie, after 30 years continues to grow, and is expanding in all directions in an unprecedented way.

This kind of rapid growth and these kinds of ambitious artistic plans represent an increased need for financial support, as well as a very committed volunteer base that we can draw upon. We are seeking donors and sponsors on all levels of contributions, and are committed to recognizing such individuals or businesses in appropriate and measurable ways.

Polanie is committed to continue promoting and preserving the Polish folk dance form in Calgary, Alberta, throughout Canada and abroad. Our ensemble represents not only the Polish community in Calgary, but also the multicultural fabric of Canada and the energy as well as passion of dancers of various ages and expertise. Our craft is dance, our medium is our bodies, our passion is movement and performance, and our roots are and will always remain in Polish folklore. In order to present dances and promote the Polish culture, Polanie dancers rehearse for hours every month, and additionally put in time to volunteer for the organization’s many fundraisers. In an average month, our ensembles spend 60 combined hours just rehearsing. Any performances, fundraisers and meetings add many more hours to the time committed by dancers, parents and volunteers each month.

Not only are the operating costs of our organization growing, but our artistic goals for the next 15 months are associated with immense production and travel costs. To be more specific, we need over $100,000 and without your help, all our artistic plans may not be possible. Please help us to continue our dedication to the promotion and growth of Polish dance. Your donation can help us to achieve new artistic heights; something which we strive towards each and every hour we spend rehearsing, each time we perform and each time we travel to festivals as ambassadors of Calgary and the Polish culture and community.

Donations both great and small are deeply appreciated and help to add to the greater financial base that Polanie is striving towards. I would be happy to personally discuss donation or sponsorship options as well as benefits, with any individual or business who is interested in becoming a supporter.  There are various options for various budgets, and there are tangible benefits that go beyond receiving a tax receipt.

I hope that you will consider becoming a Polanie donor or sponsor, as your generous contribution is vital to our continued success and further growth. For 30 years Polanie has entertained you, taught you or your children and provided unparalleled experiences in performances and travels. We have created lasting and beautiful memories for those who have danced with us and for those who have watched us. We have built foundations for the preservation of the Polish dance form and folk culture, and we have done this all with passion and dedication. We dance from our hearts, and we want to continue for decades to come.

With your support, Polanie can reach new artistic heights, and the hearts of all the dancers and all those whose hearts they touch can experience the power and beauty of dance and heritage... all that, is the greatest reward and benefit of becoming a donor today.

With deep gratitude, sincere appreciation and optimism,

Patti Czerski,

Artistic Director

The last quarter has been very busy for all the dancers of Polanie and Krakusy. It has been filled with learning new choreographies, polishing current ones, and resurrecting old favourites. The artistic plans for the June 15/16 gala show at the Playhouse Theatre, celebrating 30 years of Polanie and 5 years of Krakusy, are well under way, yet there is much work still to be done before the big weekend. Undoubtedly, preparations for this show, both in the studio and beyond, will be the main focus for the dancers and Artistic Committee up until June. Although the primary performing ensemble at this gala performance will be Polanie, undoubtedly, Krakusy and Polanie Jr. will also have the opportunity to showcase their best repertoire pieces, and have the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre show.

Upcoming in 2007, are several other major performances and festival travels that will keep us in tip-top shape as dancers and performers. For the first time ever, Polanie and Polanie Jr. will highlight Calgary’s famous Lilac Festival on May 27^th, with a one-hour long performance, and a vendor booth selling home-made Polish perogies! This will be a day not to miss - a fun, family event with a wide variety of performances, vendors, and with luck, beautiful, sunny weather. The following weekend, on June 1^st and 2^nd, is the Regina Mosaic Festival, in which Polanie will perform for the first time ever as well. Our hosts, the Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of Regina will share the stage with us in their home town, and two weeks later, they will join us on stage in Calgary’s Playhouse Theatre for our 30^th anniversary gala concert. well as our connection to ‘Poland.’
read more

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
 

IN JANUARY:

We worked hard on our month-long Annual Bake Sale fundraiser at ‘Our Lady Queen of Peace' parish, the Polish Roman Catholic church.  The entire event would not have been possible without the volunteer efforts of Mrs. Marta Zdonczyk, who spearheaded the hard work in the kitchen for the entire fundraiser.  Thanks to Mrs. Zdonczyk, and to the efforts of all our wonderful volunteers who helped bake and sell the delicious pastries, this fundraiser was a hit!  The bake sale ran the entire month of January during every Sunday.  To finish off a month of hard work and sweet indulgences, Polanie Jr. and Krakusy put on a performance in the parish hall on January 28th, following the last mass of the morning. This was a festive end to the event, and a token of our gratitude to all the parishioners who had supported our organization by purchasing the scrumptious baked goods and applauding our efforts.  Thank-You!

In addition to our fundraiser, January was a busy month of performances.  On January 13^th, Krakusy performed at the annual Christmas party for ‘Frank’s Home Improvements & Renovations.’  It was the first time that they performed the new ‘Krakowiak’, so of course, it could not have gone off without a few small mishaps!  Overall, however, they did a really great job and the guests were pleased.  On January 14^th all the ensembles performed at the Polish Christmas pageant, referred to as ‘Jaselka.’  The senior Polanie ensemble performed Zywiec Goralski, a new regional dance added to the repertoire this season, as well as a newly choreographed contemporary dance just for the girls, ‘The Herod Dance.’  Polanie Jr. also performed new choreography for the ‘Lublin,’ suite of dances, as well as the traditional Polonaise to conclude the festivities.  Lastly, Krakusy again showed off their skills in ‘Krakowiak’ as well as their highlander dance, ‘Taniec Goralski.’

IN FEBRUARY:

Krakusy and Polanie Junior performed at ‘Calgary Winterfest’ in the Village Square Leisure Centre on Feb. 11^th.  As every year, this multicultural dance showcase was a colourful afternoon of dances from all over the world. Our ensembles presented themselves fantastically, and also had the chance to enjoy watching other nations present their folk dances. The Winterfest provides a strong sense of community for the Calgary multicultural scene, and is always highly enjoyed by the dancers, parents, and audiences alike.

During February we also moved forward with starting the “Friends of Polanie” organization. Following the nomination and voting process, we have 5 people who will constitute the Board of Directors for Friends of Polanie. In the next weeks and months, we will be busy writing the statutes and bylaws, and outlining the work set out for this organization. Watch for more details and information in the next newsletter.

IN MARCH:

... so far this month, Polanie has been busy preparing the repertoire for our June 30^th anniversary show, while Krakusy have started learning new Slask dances and songs. Polanie has also begun learning new choreography for a Kujawiak & Oberek dance, while Polanie Jr. is keeping busy learning the Oberek Lubelski and the Town Polka.

On March 17^th, Polanie performed the majestic Mazur, and the crowd-pleasing Goral Zywiecki dances at the Westin Hotel, for the Austrian Canadian Society’s annual “A Night in Vienna” Grand Ball. 

POLANIE TIPS

“The way you practice is the way you perform!”

"Practice makes perfect"

Learning Proper dance technique

Assessment is to make things better

Sore Muscle Care

By Kasia Stevens, Assistant Director and Dance Instructor

Click on the tip your interested in to read more.

              Had a baby boy on Feb. 2^nd. Congratulations on a second     

              healthy boy Marta!

              festivals, and Polanie events- we would like to share more of  

              these memories on our website and have them for our archive

              purposes. If you have photos you could pass on to us, no matter

              how old or new, we would greatly appreciate the help! Please

              contact Kasia Stevens.

              DVD project that will be available for sale to the public in early

              2008! Videos of performances, rehearsals, workshops, festivals,

              fundraisers and candid moments are what we’re looking for.  

              Please contact Patti Czerski at patticzerski@hotmail.com, or the

              Polanie office (info below).