| The Polish folkloric dance group Kukuleczka was founded 20 years ago as a children's dance group at the Polish Ethnic School in Maylands. Its vision was to encourage Polish youth to stay connected to the traditions of their parents and ancestors and to promote Polish culture to the broader Perth community. Today, while the group proudly continues this vision, it has outgrown its original format and has become an ensemble that measures up to the best amateur folkloric dance groups. It has been invited to perform at international and local intercultural events, and since 1994 it has participated in PolArt festivals, triennial events celebrating Polish culture and art in Australia and New Zealand.
To commemorate its 20th birthday in style, Kukuleczka put on The Folkloric Christmas Concert 2011 on Sunday, 11 December 2011. The event involved about 40 dancers and vocalists and attracted close to 300 spectators who filled the Cracovia Club's ball room to capacity. The three-hour spectacle, featuring a blend of 13 traditional Polish folk dances from various regions of Poland and Christmas carols left the audience no dull moment. The performance of children dancers received a particularly warm applause. The performers presented their skills on the stage against the background of folkloric motifs, which were complemented by images of regional Polish landscapes presented on a large stage-side projector screen, corresponding to the different dances and songs.
Birthday celebration turns into a great event and show of support
In addition to the high quality of choreography and vocal performances, the event's coordination also greatly contributed to its success. The evening's proceedings smoothly followed the program outlined in a 16-page, richly illustrated, free brochure. The pamphlet also included a background on the ensemble and its story, information on the presented dances and song lyrics.
The show gave the audience a taste of what is to come in a year's time at the PolArt Perth 2012 festival, of which Kukuleczka will be the honorary host. While preparations of the group's new repertoire for the festival are underway, the concert left no one in doubt about Kukuleczka's artistic ability and its capacity to competently fulfil its honorary PolArt hosting duties. Professionalism of the management and teaching team, the skills of the performers and dedication their supporters, as showcased last Sunday, provided ample assurance that PolArt Perth 2012 will be in good hands.
Among those who deserve a particular mention as contributors to Kukuleczka's success is its artistic director, Kasia Schmidt, and choreographer, Magdalena Dudek, both of whom honed their skills for 4 years at the renowned folkloric dance school in Rzeszow. Kukuleczka would not be what it is today without its strong management committee led by the President, Anna Schmidt. Her dedication, creativity and enterprising skills, in combination with the efforts of the committee, ensure the ensemble continues to grow as a vibrant, self-sustaining venture. All these great efforts would not be enough without the commitment of the parents and supporters who make sure the young performers work hard and stay focused.
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