The spirit of hospitality |
Why go all the way to dance when you are a Polish Dancing Group from Sydney? Why not? Over the last few years, I have heard and read articles about the wonderful Polish Festival in Melbourne, and I wanted Lajkonik to be a part of it and experience it first hand. It was our privilege to be invited by the superb and very professional organizing Committee of the Festival, and now that its all over - we have been to Melbourne and come back - I want to publicly say that it was just fantastic!
We had a great time. We stayed in comfortable accommodation in leafy St Kilda, met friendly locals who let us use their dance studio facilities even though they did not know us from a bar of soap. We shopped, we walked, we relaxed - there was just enough free time to do all of these things. On Friday night we enjoyed the amazing kindness and hospitality of Polish Ensemble "Lowicz" from Rowville, who picked us up from Dandenong station in private cars and then drove us all the way back to St Kilda late at night after our joint rehearsal so that we wouldn't have to travel by train.
Lowiczanka, Lajkonik i harcerka |
Polonez w wykonaniu zespołu "Lowicz" |
The joint Lajkonik/Lowicz rehearsal was very enjoyable, and we were given dinner and the most amazing homemade cakes that one could imagine. Our youth got to know each other and made new friends.
Sunday was the absolute culmination of our trip, and amidst the 40,000 strong crowd (my estimate), the Polish flags flying, the wonderful Polish food and beer, and the joyous atmosphere, we danced our hearts out and loved every moment. Our repertoire was Bialy Mazur, Dances from Sacz, and Dances from the Zywiec Highlands (Bialy Mazur, Tance Sadeckie i Tance Gorali Zywieckich).
Firstly I want to thank each and every one of the dancers and their parents who made such a huge effort to be there for Lajkonik, and who understood my purpose and vision in taking our Ensemble to the Festival. I also want to thank my son Darek and Alinka, who came over from Adelaide to help with the dancing (Darek is of course Lajkonik alumnus, and Alinka, my new daughter-in-law!). Then there is my mum who always gets lumped with last minute costume repairs, hmmmmm …. Thanks Mum and sorry!
Pani Teresa Korenczewska |
Biały Mazur w wykonaniu "Lajkonika" |
We received some monetary support and sponsorship in the form of prizes for our raffle to help us with our costs, and these were from:
•Polish Consulate of Sydney
•Jet Set Travel, Pennant Hills
•Simpliciti
•Dr Lukasiewicz, Ashfield
•Sambe Opals
•Tatra Press
THANKS VERY MUCH TO THESE SPONSORS!
The Polish Federation Square Festival in Melbourne, is definitely the place to be next year, November 2008.
Lajkoniki z jednym z organizatorów festiwalu |
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