PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Polanie has represented Calgary and Canada at performances and festivals in Canada, the United States, and Poland. At home in Calgary, the ensemble is a regular highlight at multicultural festivals, Canada Day, Heritage Day, the Winter Festival, as well as the world renowned Festival of Nations at the Spruce Meadows Masters. Polanie had the honour of performing at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, as well as the 1997 World Police and Fire Games in Calgary. Last year Polanie performed for the first time at the annual Lilac Festival here in Calgary, as well as at the International Folk Festival in Kimberley, British Columbia.

Polanie has also been a featured for its high artistic caliber at the Festival of Folk Dance in Boston (1987), San Francisco (1995), Los Angeles (1995, 1997), Toronto (2002), Regina (2007), and Kimberley (2007). In Poland, the senior ensemble has established itself as one of the top groups performing at the International Festival of Polish Folk Dance (1989, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005), winning first prize for Best Choreography, and second prize for Best Performance at the 2002 festival. The Krakusy and Polanie junior ensembles performed at the Intenational Children's Festival in Poland in the summer of 2006 for the very first time.  At each festival in Poland, each group also presents a new dance representing the history and culture of Canada.  

Moreover, Polanie has conceived and produced multicultural concerts which promote artistic collaboration between artists and dance ensembles of varying cultural backgrounds. Such concerts included: Olympic Concert (1988), In the Spirit of Polonaise (1991), European Folklorama (1996), A Moment in Motion (1997), In the Spirit of Youth (2000), 2000 Steps & Notes from Poland (2000), and their 30th Anniversary Production (2007).

LETS START AT THE BEGINNING...

From the start the group consisted of the senior and junior ensembles.  The senior ensemble was considered the performing group, and attended most of the more prestigious performances.  In contrast the junior ensemble was the training group that focused primarily on educating new dancers to the standards and skill level of the senior ensemble. The junior ensemble mostly performed at local and small community performances.

Boston 1987

Polanie" Polish Song & Dance Association was founded in Calgary in 1977 by the intiative of Krystyna Cichowicz (Siostra Alojza). The aim of the group is to present the richness of Polish folklore in a stylized artistic adaptation. Since its outset, the ensemble has developed and established a unique style which has become a recognized landmark both in Canada and abroad.

1978

1981

For over twenty five years "Polanie" has presented its style of dance and musical theatre to audiences in Canada, the United States, and Poland. At home, in Calgary, the group has been present at all multicultural events, such as Canada Day, Heritage Day, the Winter Festival Gala, Lilac Festival, Spruce Meadows Christmas Market, as well as the world renowned Festival of Nations at Spruce Meadows.

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Olympics 1988

1992

"Polanie" also performed for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and presented its style of dance and music at the opening of the 1997 World Police and Fire Games in Calgary.

Canada Day 1996

"Polanie" was one of the key folk dance groups representing Canada at the Festival of Folk Dance in Boston (1987), San Francisco (1995), and Los Angeles (1995 and 1997). In Poland, "Polanie" appeared at the prestigious World Festival of Polish Folklore in Rzeszow (1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2005).

Los Angeles 1997

Poland 1993

1994

Los Angeles 1995

Poland 1999

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Poland 2002

Every year the ensembles audition new youths and adults as others leave and move on with their lives.  Some remain as devoted volunteers and sponsors of the association, while others eventually send their own children to dance in Polanie.  The dancers are also the source of future instructors and leaders in the association.

Krakusy in 2002

In April of 2002, Maya Skalinska ,along with the help of Kasia Ustienny and Katarzyna Stevens, initiated the Krakusy  Polish  Song & Dance Association.  This is a youth ensemble for teens ages 11 to 15 or grades 7 to 9.  Krakusy has been very active since its establishment. In fact the ensemble participated in the Toronto Children's Festival in 2002.

Polanie's repertoire includes suites of folk dances and music from different regions of Poland, such as: Krakow, Lowicz, Nowy Sacz, Rzeszow, Lublin, Opoczno, Kurpie regions, Cieszyn, Lwow, Beskid Mountains and the Tatra Mountains, as well as Polish national dances: Polonaise, Kujawiak and Oberek and Mazur. For more information on repertoire click here.

Polanie, Poland 2005

Krakusy on the Way to Toronto 2002

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Pan Marek Skalinski at the Masquerade Ball in 2005

Under the guiding hand of Marek Skalinski, "Polanie's" Artistic Director and Choreographer up to 1997, the special program has been tailored to develop high standards of technical skills, to provide dancers with a better understanding of Polish culture, and to explore different interpretations of the Polish dance form.

The responsibilities of Artistic Director and Choreographer were taken over by Marek Skalinkski's daughter, Maya Skalinska in 1997.  Following which the duties were passed on to Patrycja Czerska.  For more details click here, or visit the Artistic Director link above.

Krakusy attended The 6th International Children's Folk Festival in Poland in the summer of 2006 along with Polanie Junior.

The repertoire of Krakusy is constantly expanding, and now includes two national dances, the Krakowiak and Polonaise, several regional dances from Poland, Pszczyna, Slask, Goral Podhalanski, Bilgoraj, and a Canadian regional dance, the Western. For more information on repertoire click here.

Poland 2006

30th Anniversary of Polanie

Recently, Polanie has celebrated the 30th anniversary of the association's establishment in a production featuring the reperotoire of all three ensembles as well as that of Polonia, a polish dance folk group from Regina.  This event was produced by Patrycja Czerska at the Playhouse Theatre in Calgary.

The Krakusy ensemble remained in Calgary this summer, but time was not lost as they are preparing for their next trip to Poland in the summer of 2009.

Kimberley 2007

Poland 2008