For several years now, dancers of the Folkloristic Group “Wielkopolanie” have been taking part in the National Polish Dance Tournaments held all over Poland.

In addition to regular rehearsals of the team, they meet in the training room and, under the supervision of instructor Jan Galasiński, improve their dancing skills, practice new combinations and steps to present themselves as well as possible and compete with couples from all over Poland.

During many years of struggle, “Wielkopolanie” has become an important point on the map of centers presenting Polish National Dances and always shows a high artistic level, which results in leading places at events organized throughout Poland.

The main goal of the tournaments, organized under the aegis of the Polish Section of CIOFF (International Council of Folklore Associations, Festivals and Folk Art), is to popularize Polish national dances among children, adolescents and adults. Thanks to the active participation of a growing group of dancers, in Polish dance tournaments, Polish dance heritage is saved from oblivion, and also influences its further development. The organization of these events in the form of a competition, where dance pairs present their skills in Polish dances, has been accepted by children, adolescents and adults, as evidenced by their numerous participation in competitions organized so far. Couples in different age categories present on the dance floors of Poland all over Poland: Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Polonaise, Mazur and Polka.

In 2021, the representation of “Wielkopolanie” of this form of popularizing Polish dances is made up of 9 couples who promote Wielkopolska throughout Poland: Maksymilian Krobski and Zofia Dykier (IVB category), Bartłomiej Spirka and Zofia Kulka (IVB category), Aleksander Kamiński and Oliwia Czaińska (cat. IVB), Filip Laskowski and Maja Murmiłło (cat. VB), Hubert Gramse and Nicol Krzyżanek (cat. VIA), Daniel Powroziewicz and Oliwia Lorenz (cat. VIA), Mikołaj Szymański and Adrianna Zalewska (cat. VIA), Szymon Obolewicz and Agata Pospiech (cat. VIA) and Stanisław Haraś and Diana Haraś (cat. VIIA)

On September 17-19, “Wielkopolanie” presented their artistry at the biggest dance festival, the Polish Championships in Polish Dances in Wieliszew. Over one hundred couples in different age categories competed on the dance floor, dancing: krakowiak, kujawiak, oberek, mazurka, and the youngest categories also polka. The competition of couples, amid doping, joy but also mutual respect, was assessed by the Jury composed of experts from all over Poland.

After two days of competition, the results were announced, which classified the pairs of “Wielkopolanie” in honorable places, among them the Champions of Poland in the IV category, Bartłomiej Spirka and Zofia Kulka.

Zofia and Bartłomiej began their dance and music career in the Children’s Folk Group “Cepelia-Poznań” where, under the auspices of Jadwiga Banaś, for nine years they gave concerts on stages all over the world, showing the beauty of regional and national culture. It was also in this team that they took part in the Polish Dance Tournaments, always taking the leading places. Since 2019, they have been continuing their career in the adult group of the “Wielkopolanie” Folk Group of the Provincial Public Library and the Cultural Animation Center in Poznań. It is in this group that, in addition to concert and educational activities, they develop their passions in the field of Polish dances in a social form. Under the watchful eye of Jan Galasiński, they improve their skills in the field of artistic expression, as well as steps and figures of national dances. Hard work in training rooms brings them numerous prizes at national tournaments. This year in Wieliszew they received the highest award – the title of Polish Champion in category IV.

PK