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Polish Dances Overview
THE POLONEZ [Polonez poh-loh-nez] - The Polish national "Grand March," is Poland's oldest, dating back to the 15th century and is derived from the peasant walking dance, the chodzony. It was always part of wedding and other family rituals, and various communal ceremonies. It was an honor to be the leader, the wodzirej [voh-jee-ray], and usually an older man was chosen. He played an important role, as he led the couples into intricate moving, winding, and serpentine patterns. From Poland the peasant chodzony migrated to neighboring countries: to Morawy, (Moravia, presently part of the Czech Republic) and to Kuzyce (Lusatia, presently in East Germany), where it became almost its national dance. The polonez reached the peak of its development by the end of the l6th and the beginning of the 17th centuries. The lovely music and the graceful movement of the dance enchanted foreigners and it spread all over Europe under its French name, polonaise. Practically all great composers and choreographers tried their hand at it and, of course, Chopin made it famous. It also reached Sweden During the reign of the Swedish dynasty of Waza kings in Poland; even now, there exists a Swedish singing folk dance, called the "Polska."
KRAKOWIAK - NATIONAL DANCE - The city of Krakow in southern Poland in the ethnocentric area of Malopolska has had a rich history. Having been the old national capital and being located on one of the major trading routes joining the Middle East and Western Asia to Central and Northern Europe, the city has many influences. One of these comes to us in the form of the Krakowiak costume, which dates back to the 14th century when it arrived from Persia. In the 18th century, the costume was used a military uniform by General Kosciuszko.
GORALSKI PODHALANSKI - These are highland dances of the inhabitants of the Tatra mountains, full of bravado and vigor. There are dances by maidens and lads in which the lively temperament of the highlanders pours out. Very small, precise steps are characteristic in these dances, as in the Kresany, which means"to strike sparks out of mountaineers' axes", and the Zbojnicki, the term for highland robbers. In these dances the boys display feats of skill and strength to impress the girls. The tradition has it that G?? men impress their women with their fancy dancing and complicated footwork. The people of Podhale, meaning below the mountain pastures, are mountaineers and shepherds. They owe their culture and folklore not only to southern Polish elements but also from Slovak highlanders who live just on the other side of the Czech border..
MAZUR - The Mazur is one of five Polish national dances. The other four are: Polonez, Krakowiak, Kujawiak, and Oberek. It originated in the villages of the Mazovian plains in Central Poland. Later the nobility embraced the Mazur, polishing and embellishing it. The Mazur soon reached the palaces of the Polish magnates and finally the Royal Court from which it spread to European courts. Dolly Madison introduced it at the White House. In a still more refined form, it was adopted by the ballet and has been an inspiration for many composers. Fryderyk Chopin's mazurkas are the most striking examples. As a social dance, it reached its peak of popularity in Poland during the first half of the Nineteenth Century. Napoleon's Polish Legion contributed immensely to the Mazur's popularity. It was danced at all the elegant Balls by the officers of the lancer's division in full dress uniforms and regalia. Since the Legion was a symbol of Poland's fight for independence, dancing the Mazur became an expression of patriotism. It was also danced to special Mazur songs written at that time and often based on old folk melodies. Some of the best known are: Ostatni Mazur (The Last Mazur, written in 1831), Podkoweczki dajcie ognia (Cleats strike with Fire, published in 1835) and last but not least, Mazurek Dobrowskiego (Dobrowski's Mazurka, written in 1797) which later became the Polish National Anthem - Jeszcze Polska nie zginela (Poland Has Not Yet Perished).