| The pride and joy in the faces of Lajkonik dancers was real and genuine. The first ever visit of the President of the Republic of Poland was really a big deal. The whole of the Lajkonik senior group wanted to perform and whilst the stage at Marayong is a great stage, it is really only of a size for 8 pairs if you have fast-moving, highly-choreographed and energetic dances such as those in the Lajkonik repertoire. So, against my better judgement, we squeezed 10 pairs on stage in Opoczno so that most of the experienced senior group dancers could be on stage. It was a bit tight.
Only a few of our up and coming younger boys and girls missed out – It will be their turn next time.
Lajkonik listened carefully to President Andrzej Duda’s speech and I felt he really reached out to them and made a connection, as well as to other groups which make up the Polish community. I believe they felt that their commitment and efforts in maintaining Polish culture were truly recognised and valued by the President, by the people of Poland, and by the Polish Community in Sydney.
Lajkonik had practised a photo position during rehearsal, but it wasn’t until the actual evening that we knew whether or not we would get a Lajkonik photo with him and his lovely elegant wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda. Of course, there was the terrific group shot with all the dance ensembles, but then, thanks to one of our mums, Joasia Sypka making a special request to one of the body guards, to our great excitement, the President and his wife made his way back up on stage where Lajkonik was patiently waiting for “THE LAJKONIK PHOTO”. As a bonus, he also agreed to take a selfie with one of our dancers Kayla Pilichowski. We thought that was pretty “cool”.
I would also like to say that Lajkonik dancers Abigail Latecka and Jacob Klosinski were chosen to greet the Presidential couple with the traditional bread and salt, together with Ksiadz Henryk, at the entry to the Marayong Church. This occurred at 7pm whilst everyone else was being processed to enter the hall by security, or already waiting inside the hall. The traditional greeting was a very special honour for Lajkonik, and we hope that somewhere, somehow, photos of that greeting will be sent to Lajkonik because these two dancers in particular really valued this experience and would like to have a memento. We haven’t seen any photos yet.
Where to from here? – Lajkonik wants to go to Rzeszow in 2019 for the 50th Anniversary of the Rzeszow Festival. However, this is still a dream. We will be knocking on all doors for help, including President Duda’s.
Ursula Lang
MORE PHOTOS IN A PHOTO GALLERY SOON!!!
| 
