At the Stanisław Wyspiański Youth Cultural Centre in Bolesławiec, Polish-German workshops were held with the participation of the Mały Bolesławiec Song and Dance Ensemble and the Krakowiak Song and Dance Ensemble from Griesheim. The results of both groups’ work could be seen on Saturday, 16 October, in the auditorium of the Witold Lutosławski State Music School, first level.
“Our cooperation with the Krakowiak Song and Dance Ensemble has continued since 2004,” says Marek Łętowski, head of the Youth Cultural Centre. Cooperation between the two ensembles began thanks to Nina Krawczewska, who worked at Mały Bolesławiec for many years and later moved to Germany. “We met in Damstadt,” says Joanna Genios, chairwoman of Krakowiak. “Mrs Nina really wanted to work with children in our ensemble. And it was she who persuaded us to come to Poland. We had been planning this trip for many years. This year, we finally managed to make it happen.”
Krakowiak was founded after the Association of Poles in Germany broke up. “We wanted to preserve Polish traditions,” the ensemble’s head emphasises. This does not mean, however, that the group consists exclusively of people with Polish roots. “A native Italian and a half-Spanish, half-German man dance with us,” Joanna Genios says with a smile. “They both love Polish culture and dance.”
“The Krakowiak ensemble came to us to learn Lower Silesian dances. We showed them several dances, including the jedliniok, chłopak and porębiok. They handled them excellently,” says Anna Alicja Serkies, an MDK teacher and choreographer of Mały Bolesławiec. “I am very pleased that this cooperation came about. Krakowiak includes people who have been dancing for years. They know how to enjoy dance and infect everyone with a love of folklore—from the youngest to the oldest.”
