This year I was among 200 plus Polish Folk Dancers who participated at the Chicago Dance Festival, during the week of July 28th through August 4th. The event was hosted by the Wesoly Lud Folk Dancers of Chicago, with special recognition to the festival directors: Misia Jaminski, Richard Jaminski, and Monica Pazdziora who produced this spectacle.

As a member of Wici Song and Dance Company of Chicago I partook in the festival attending the daily workshops and gatherings put on by the Polish Folk Dancers Association of America (PFDAA).

The PFDAA commenced in 1983, with an aim to network and strengthen Polish dance companies in the Americas; without them this festival would not have been possible. Thirty-five dance companies hold a membership with the PFDAA where they participate in social activities and gala concerts.

The Dance Festival took place at Loyola University in Chicago, the sister city to Warsaw. In addition to Wesoly Lud and Wici, a multitude of other Polish Folk Dancers such as: Lechici of Chicago, Illinois, Lajkonik of Chicago, Illinois, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America Choir, Polonia of Chicago, Illinois, Krakowiak of Boston, Massachusetts, Polish Falcons of America of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Syrena of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Polish Heritage of Buffalo, New York, Wawel of Detroit, Michigan, Michas of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the Polish-American Folk Dance Company of New York, New York attended the event.

Many of the dancers from far away stayed in the dormitories while the Chicago Folk dancers mainly commuted. Monica Pazdziora, the event coordinator, organized trips to experience the city first hand by going on a Boat Tour, visiting the Sears Tower, and going on a cruise along the lake.

Kapusta, kielbasa, and potatoes entertained our stomachs and allowed the dancers to mingle with one another at a picnic at Belmont Harbor which kicked off the week long celebration. The following Sunday morning, a mass at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago took place in honor of all the folk dancers. The groups dressed in traditional clothing during the mass and posed for pictures to commemorate the Festival of 2007.

I was apprehensive of Monday morning. In my mind I had no idea what to expect and whether or not I could out stand six hour long dance workshops that were conducted by our four honorary choreographers, who taught specific dances from the region where they reside: Wieslawa Hazuka from Eastern Krakow, Maria Pietraszek-Wnek from Spisz, Slawomir Pawlinski from the Wielkopolska region, and Emma Cieslinska from Podlasie, Chelm, Bilgoraj.

These workshops were physically intense and educating. We learned not only various dances but even more about the specific history and customs that emerged from each region of Poland.

For example we learned the Polka Jadownicka specific to Krakow, and the Czardasz specific to the Spisz region. We were also taught various games played during certain celebrations in Poland, such as: Wisnie, Zyrafa, and dancing with a Miotla. Wisnie, in English translates to cherries; the game consists of the men lining up in front of the woman who is defended by two guys, who have a closer relationship for instance they are her brothers. The guards decide whether or not the male from the line gets the kiss by blocking or letting him pass. The one who wins gets the female for the whole night. Aside from standing in line, Zyrafa, relies on twisting, turning, and running. Zyrafa, otherwise known as Giraffe, is made up of a line of guys or girls joined by their hands and waists. One end of the line is the head while the other is the tail and the goal is for the front to catch its tail without breaking apart. Music plays in the background starting of slow and speeding up. As one of our cool-downs we held a competition between the males and females where the women naturally prevailed. Take my word for it, it is easier said then done. Lastly, the dancing with the miotla, or broom, consists of pairs dancing the polka, where one male is without a partner, thus he takes the broom and dances with it. However, if he sees the girl he wants to dance with, he drops the miotla, takes the girl; everyone else must change partners, and the last man standing is obligated to dance with the broom.

After learning all these “tance,” or dances, for an entire week, gifts and certificates were given to each contributor on Thursday evening at the dance party thrown to thank all of the participants and organizers. The Boogie Band entertained everyone playing all genres of music especially Polkas. This was an opportunity to dance with the opposite sex from the other groups and establish new friendships. Once the night was over, I was exhausted and went to sleep without hesitation.

The next morning I thought, “Finally it’s Friday!” The day could not have come any sooner. I loved this experience but my stepped-on toes could not handle it anymore. That morning, all the “zespoly” met with Mrs. Hazuka and Mr. Pawlinski, who choreographed the finale combining all of the dance troupes into the Krakowiak, a lively and vibrant presentation. The Krakowiak comes from Krakow located in southern Poland. The “cwal” and “cholubiec”, or gallops and heel-clicking, are the basic steps that create the Krakowiak. The end of the Krakowiak was an amalgamation of all the sections finishing the dance in unison steps.

Following the finale practice, buses drove us to the Arie Crown Theater where the Gala Concert was held. During this time each group had a chance to practice for a few minutes on the slippery stage. The performance began at eight o’clock and lasted approximately two and a half hours. After the show we were packing our costumes and rushing to get to the late night dinner offered to all the participants as a chance to say good bye to one another.

The night was a success and could not have been possible without Wesoly Lud and the Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas.

Despite the rigorous workshops this experience was worth the aching feet and long days. After all, I learned more about my roots, met many new people, and bonded with old friends.

For more information visit: www.pfdaa.org, www.pfdaachicagofest.com, http://www.wesolylud.org/,  http://www.prcua.org/ http://www.pafdc.org/, http://www.lechici.com/, http://www.phdofwny.org/,  http://www.wicisonganddance.com/, http://www.krakowiak.org/, http://www.syrenadancers.com/, http://www.waweldancers.com/, http://www.polishfolk.net/Links.html, http://www.polishfalcons.org/district/ii/index.html