Founded in 1948 by Tadeusz Sygietyński, Mazowsze is one of the world’s largest song and dance ensembles with a touring cast of 150 performers. It has given more than 9,000 concerts in over 50 countries for 27 million spectators.
The group’s repertoire includes dances from over 40 regions of Poland and over 500 songs, not only in Polish but also in the languages of each country the ensemble has visited. “The repertoire aims at preserving the culture and traditions of Polish towns and villages,” says Krzysztof Kurlej, the group’s managing director.
“We have dignified polonaise, lively cracovienne, bustling mazurka, brisk polka, Goral dances. But people with hundreds and thousands of hours of hard work in the rehearsal hall under their belts can dance anything,” says Wioletta Milczuk, manager of the Mazowsze ballet. The dancers carry costumes, some of which weigh more than seven kilograms. This is down to the desire of the group’s iconic director, the late Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska (wife of Tadeusz Sygietyński), to ensure authenticity on stage, says Kurlej.
The group’s choir--formed from the dancers themselves--also performs repertoires of Christmas carols, patriotic songs and sacred music. Indeed, on 12 November at 7:00 pm they will perform a selection of works at the Notre Dame cathedral in Luxembourg City.
But the performance of the group’s “Kaleidoscope of Polish Colors” show at the Conservatoire on the 11 November promises to be an unforgettable experience for the audience. The programme includes the most popular songs and the most captivating choreographies from the ensemble’s repertoire, including whirlpool of colours. There will be national dances such as the polonaise, krakowiak, oberek, mazur and kujawiak, as well as regional dances accompanied by the characteristic original chants.
The Mazowsze performance is the grand finale of a year filled with celebrations to highlight 100 years since Luxembourg and Poland formally established relations on 18 April 1921. “Mazowsze tours around the world--from Japan to the US. However, the group decided to perform in Luxembourg to mark the importance of our bilateral relations,” said Piotr Wojtczak, Poland’s ambassador to Luxembourg. The Polish embassy has been running a centenary campaign with the hashtag “#celebrating100”.
Delano has several pairs of tickets to give away to readers for what is sure to be a sell-out concert at the Conservatoire. To enter, click on the link below.