In both BOK-MCC buildings, at Piłsudskiego Square and on Chopin Street at CIK Orzeł, several workshops were held in various fields: visual arts, dance, singing, music, theatre, photography and film. Everyone also eagerly took advantage of the film programme prepared for them at Kino Forum.
“A Sea Illuminated by Thousands of Colours” – ceramics classes
For enthusiasts of handicrafts, the visual arts workshops “A Sea Illuminated by Thousands of Colours” were held, where ceramic works were created under the guidance of instructors: Mateusz Grobelny, Edyta Orlińska and Katarzyna Zarówny. The participants made twelve sea-inspired mosaics featuring octopuses, sharks, fish, crabs and dolphins. All the works were glazed. The children learned glazing techniques and how to select glazes. In the next stage, the works will be fired, assembled and glued so that they can be mounted on a board. The final stage will be illuminating the resulting ceramic sculptures. The participants’ work will be presented at an exhibition at BOK-MCC in June this year.
“Patchwork – Textile and Batik Workshop” – handicrafts classes
During classes with Magdalena Konieczna, participants made batik, patchwork and soft toys. They learned stitches and the basics of sewing. They had to design their projects, choose suitable colours and consider their form. During the classes, they could freely benefit from the instructor’s professional advice. They also acquired skills in working with textiles.
Dance fans had plenty to choose from
Alicja Kowal introduced participants in two age groups to the basic steps and rhythms of oriental dance. Graceful movements and exotic sounds provided younger and older girls with wonderful entertainment.
Students who were not afraid of standing on their heads and performing other acrobatics, and for whom dance was a way of life, chose breakdance classes with Paweł Klimek. To begin with, there were rhythm and acrobatics exercises incorporating elements of breakdance, as well as the basics: feeling, top rock and footwork.
Those who valued tradition took part in the folk dance and singing workshops “This and That in Folk Style” with Agnieszka Radwańska, an instructor who leads the “Bolesławiec” Song and Dance Ensemble at BOK-MCC on a daily basis. During the classes, the children learned folk dances, songs and costumes from several regions of Poland. They learned the Krakowiak, Polonaise, Kujawiak and a suite of Lower Silesian dances. Everyone had the opportunity to try on a folk costume from a particular region and dance in it. The children also learned the names of individual items of clothing in Old Polish. The little ones practised the various choreographic routines with great enthusiasm.
Children’s aerobics
The youngest participants in the BOK-MCC winter break programme could exercise during classes with Agnieszka Radwańska. The classes were based on simple steps and exercises strengthening individual muscle groups. The aim of the workshops was to improve the children’s fitness, strength and physical ability. Working together as a group, participants took part in a series of integration and movement games combined with rhythmic exercises. They also exercised with props, including a ball, an exercise stick, a ribbon and cushions. Despite their physical fatigue, the children left the dance room smiling. They discovered that gymnastics is a great way to spend their free time.
A super musical winter break
Vocal workshops led by Barbara Lendzian were held at CIK Orzeł. Here, young people performed voice-training exercises and worked on melodic intonation, taking rhythm, dynamics and articulation into account. They also practised breathing exercises and diction. They developed their ability to work with a microphone and maintain correct posture while singing. Using selected Polish songs, they learned about text interpretation and stage movement.
At guitar workshops, blues enthusiasts had the opportunity to develop their skills in phrasing, picking and harmony with instructor Mirosław Kuc, known to local residents, among other things, from the band Tres.
The first week of winter-break activities at CIK “Orzeł” concluded with a music workshop for BOK-MCC studio participants, led by Michał Sołtan. Participants from Mirosław Kuc’s guitar studio and the vocal studio led by Barbara Lendzian took part. The musician, composer, singer and instrumentalist talked about his experiences, the freedom of creating music and the creative process. Together with the participants, he created new musical compositions.
The workshops concluded with Michał Sołtan’s concert “Come on, hey, come on! Or, Uniquely About Love”. He performed one of his songs with Wojciech Andrzejewski, a student of Mirosław Kuc from the guitar studio. The workshop report was produced by Michał Szwed, who leads the BOK-MCC Film Studio.
Winter break on stage, behind the camera and through the lens
The first week of theatre classes with Urszula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz focused above all on integration, introducing the basics of theatre animation, as well as games and activities.
Participants in the film workshops “So CIK! It’s Rolling” learned the basic concepts of film and television post-production and film techniques under the guidance of camera operator Michał Szwed.
At the “Orzeł” Cultural Integration Centre, young photography enthusiasts had the opportunity to learn the secrets of digital, pinhole and analogue photography under the guidance of well-known Bolesławiec photographer Grzegorz Sidorowicz.
Moreover, during the first week of the winter break, young viewers eagerly took advantage of the films shown at Kino Forum. They were attracted by the appealing programme and ticket prices. Almost 1,200 viewers watched the animated films “A Fantastic Adventure” in standard and 3D versions, “Barbie: Secret Agents”, as well as one-off 3D screenings for PLN 10: “Happy Feet 2” and “The LEGO Movie 3D”.
A Valentine’s summary of the winter-break classes
The results of the vocal, theatre and film classes will be shown on screen at CIK Orzeł on 12 February at 6:00 p.m. We warmly recommend the event and invite you to attend. Admission is free.