polaniedetroit.org

POLANIE Song & Dance Ensemble is sponsored by Lodge 2525 of the Polish National Alliance, which is a fraternal organization established by Polish patriots in 1880.  For over 125 years, the PNA has changed lives of its members and supported Polish affairs in accord with its motto “In Unity There is Strength, In Consensus Power”.

POLANIE was founded in 1996 by Christine Kryszko (director) and Audra Cauchon  (choreographer).  From its inception, POLANIE’s mission has been to promote the opulent beauty of Polish folklore among Polish and American communities through song and dance and the portrayal of customs and traditions.  Currently there are over 30 POLANIE dancers with majority being university students and high school upper classmen.  They pride themselves on being part of an ensemble which strictly adheres to the authenticity of dances as well as the costumes and to the originality of the choreography.

POLANIE’s repertoire includes all Polish national dances, a rich variety of regional dances and stage plays portraying Polish customs and traditions such as the Goralskie Wesele (Highlander’s Wedding), Dozynki ( Harvest Celebration), Noc Swietojanska (St John’s Eve), Jaselka (Nativity Play), Swieconka (Easter Celebration).  Over the years, POLANIE has performed not only for Polonia, but also for American, Canadian and Polish audiences.   The ensemble is a proud recipient of the Polish Ministry of Culture Award (2002).  Every three years POLANIE  travel to Rzeszow, Poland to perform at the World Festival of Polish Folk Dancing.   They are alumni of the X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV World Festival and they are busy preparing for the XV World Festival which will be held in  2011.

Current POLANIE Board of Directors includes Christine Kryszko, (Director) Grace Adamczyk and Mary Sitko (Assistant Directors), and Folklore Consultant and former Assistant Director, Wendy Chrobak. The current choreographer is Tomasz Kielar.

Visit our website at www.polaniedetroit.org for additional information.  You may also email the Director at polaniedetroit@aol.com or call at 313 581-3181. You can also check us out on YouTube at youtube.com/polanie2008 

Here are some of our performances:

Featured Performances

• X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV World Festival of Polish Folk Dancing in Rzeszow, Poland
• Highlander’s Wedding Feast, a mock Polish mountain wedding
• Dozynki Celebration for the Polish Mission at Orchard Lake
• Dozynki Celebration at the historic Legs Inn in Cross Village, MI
• Dozynki and Jaselka presentations sponsored by PNA Lodge 2525
• Numerous PNA Presentation Balls including District Balls
• 25th Anniversary of the American Polish Cultural Center
• 70th Anniversary Filarets Choir Concert and 75th Anniversary Banquet
• 2010 Polish American Art Invitational at the Dearborn Performing Arts Center
• Polish National Alliance’s 125th Anniversary
• PNA Council 54’s 90th Anniversary
• PNA District 10 Women’s Division’s “Salute to Women” & “Jaselka”
• State of Michigan’s First Annual Ethnic Fest, Lansing, MI
• State of Michigan’s Historical Museum, Winterfest, Lansing, MI
• The International Institute of Detroit
• The Detroit Festival of the Arts Historical Museum
• Wayne County Community College, Taylor Campus
• May 3rd Constitution Day, Orchard Lake, MI
• Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI
• International Rotary Club 100th Anniversary, Ford Community Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, MI
• Wigilia: Our Lady of Grace Parish, Dearborn Heights, MI &  St. Theodore, Westland
• Tuesdays in the Park to an audience of 700, Gladwin, MI
• Chopiniana, American Polish Cultural Center, Troy, MI
• Pulaski Day Festival, Grand Rapids, MI
• Numerous Detroit area Church Festivals
• Renaissance Festival, Holly, MI
• Wayne State University Slavic Department Wigilia Celebrations
• McNamara International Airport for its Gala Opening, “Raise the Roof”  Celebration
• and many more