Polanie is a Polish folk dance group operating at the Polish School of st. John Paul II in Lemont, IL. The aim of the group is to introduce young dancers to the traditional dances of five ethnographically diverse regions of Poland (Wielkopolska, Małopolska, Mazowsze, Silesia and Pomerania).
The group was founded in 2000 and prides itself on two decades of success on the folk scene. Classes in the Polanie team are conducted by professional dance instructors, under the supervision of the artistic director and choreographer Michał Dziadkowiec.
History and Team Achievements
Polanie and the Polish School of st. John Paul II have been under the patronage of the Polish Roman Catholic Union in America since its inception. Admission to the team is PRCUA membership, obtained by purchasing life insurance. The union in return financially supports the Polanie group by granting annual subsidies to each dancer, which results in a discount on the tuition fee. As high school students, dancers can take advantage of many additional benefits offered by PRCUA, such as participation in sports tournaments, the Cinderella and Prince’s Ball or other types of cultural events. As students, dancers will also be able to apply for study grants offered by the Union.
Classes are held on Saturdays, right after the end of the Polish school, from 1:00-3:00 pm. Classes are held in three age groups:
– Group A (oldest): 11-14 years
– Group B (medium): 8-10 years
– Group C (youngest): 4-7 years.
The group provides dancers with traditional regional costumes.
As part of cooperation with the Polish School of st. Jana Pawła II, the Polanie team presents their skills during numerous events during the school year.
Polanie Team participates in the International Festival of Children’s Folk Groups in Iwonicz-Zdrój.
This post is also available in: Polish
