Janosik's Recent Events

Onion Festival, Pine Island, N.Y. | Poconos' Wurst Festival, Shawnee on Delaware, Pa. | Wianki on the Mall, Washington, D.C. | Memorial Day, Somerton, Pa. | Polish Folk Dance Party, Willow Grove, Pa.

ONION FESTIVAL, featuring the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, Pine Island, N.Y.

September 6, PLAV Post 16. Audiences danced to the sounds of the 18-time Grammy-Award-winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra and were treated to two performance sets by Janosik. The Janosik dancers wore costumes from Krakow and presented national dances in the first set. Then they returned wearing costumes from the góralski or mountain regions and presented dances from the Beskid and Tatra mountains, and Nowy Sącz regions. The group appended a special polka number for Jimmy Sturr fans to conclude their show. The weather was warm and the music was fabulous.

Photographs courtesy Mary Lindberg, Arthur Rosenfeld, and Ted Smolanowicz

POCONOS' WURST FESTIVAL, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area

July 18, Shawnee on Delaware. German Oompa-pa Bands, Polish Polka Bands, German & Polish crafts and dancers plus all of the wursts, wieners, kielbasa, pierogies, ethnic vendors and crafted brews were enjoyed by attendees in this Oktoberfest in July — the annual Poconos' Wurst Festival. Audiences under the tent enjoyed polkas and obereks by such bands as the 18-time Grammy-Award-winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra and Eddie Derwin & the Polka Naturals, and saw three performances by Janosik. The Janosik dancers wore costumes from Krakow and among the dances presented were a suite from Wielkopolska, a song from Jurgów, national dances of the Krakowiak and the Mazur, and a dance from Kurpie. The group appended a special polka number for Jimmy Sturr fans to conclude each of their shows.

Photographs courtesy Mary Lindberg and Ted Smolanowicz

JANOSIK AND MICHAS DANCERS PERFORM AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL
at WIANKI ON THE MALL, Summer Solstice Festival of Wreaths on the Feast of St. John

The solemn Lincoln Memorial, the august Washington Monument and the serene reflecting pool were the backdrops for the annual wianki celebration which took place on June 20 in Washington, D.C. The Janosik Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, the Michas Dancers from Virginia Beach, and the Brothers-in-Law Plus Band provided the entertainment for the evening’s festivities.

Janosik, under the direction of Monique Legaré, performed the national dances of the Polonez, Krakowiak, Kujawiak, and Mazur as well as dances from the regions of Kurpie, Sląsk, Podhale, and Nowy Sącz. Wearing authentic Krakowiak costumes, the audience was mesmerized by the colors and the intricate dance patterns as the Washington Monument loomed in the background.

The Michas Dancers, under the direction of Mike Levinsky, wore the popular Rzeszów costumes and performed crowd-pleasing playful dances and songs from the regions of Rzeszów, Wielkopolska, Kaszuby and Łowicz.

The directors from both groups led a Grand Polonez which included at least 75 audience participants. A wianki dance presented by the Michas Dancers culminated the dance presentations and was a beautiful prelude to the actual wianki procession of white-robed unmarried ladies and the ceremonious laying of their wreaths at the reflecting pool.

An essential part of any Polish celebration, the Brothers-in-Law Plus Band provided toe-tapping traditional and contemporary Polish and multi-cultural folk music during the entire celebration. The culmination of the evening featured a song-fest with members of the audience singing favorite Polish folk songs that are beloved by all Poles.

The wianki celebration was sponsored by the Polish-American Arts Association of Washington, D.C.

Photographs courtesy Marianne Miserandino, Stasia Skrypczuk, Ted Smolanowicz, and Beth Yancoskie

CELEBRATION OF POLISH FOLK DANCE AND MUSIC

On May 3, 2009, the Janosik Polish Folk Dance Ensemble sponsored a Polish folk dance party at the Professional Dance Academy in Willow Grove, PA. 

Festivities included group instruction of regional dances from Lublin, Cieszyn, and Nowy Sącz as well as the national dance, the Polonez, by artistic director, Monique Legaré. 

Participants were invited to wear traditional Polish costumes and footwear and participate in the costume parade. Costumes from the regions of Krakow, Rzeszów, Lublin, Cieszyn, Opoczno, Wielkopolska, Kaszuby, Kujawy, Mazury, Podhale, and Łowicz were all represented. 

A highlight of the afternoon’s celebration included a performance by the ensemble of the Krakowiak, the Kołomajki, and dances from Wielkopolska. 

As part of any Polish celebration, traditional Polish cookies, cakes, and rolls, as well as other light fare were enjoyed by all. 

If you are interested in either attending Janosik’s training class or in having the group perform at your function, please call our Business Manager, Ann Louise Pyzik-Colduvell at 215-295-9330.

Photographs courtesy of Dan Edelman and Arthur Rosenfeld

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IN SOMERTON, PA

On May 25 Janosik helped Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter celebrate the day of remembrance of the United States' fallen soldiers. Weather was beautiful and the parade pleased the crowds. Janosik has been participants of this parade for many years.

Photographs courtesy Ted Smolanowicz.