Culture
National dances hide character and history
by Zofia Nyka
Few countries in the world have at least one
national dance, and it so happens that Poland has as many as 5 of such dances! Polish folk dances are derived from the customs, lifestyle, traditions, history and beliefs of the Polish people, thus emphasizing diversity, beauty and richness through song and dance. Poland is certainly a country rich in culture and musical tradition and the first information about their existence is contained in chronicles dating back to the fifteenth century. These dances, originating from the Polish countryside, were so popular that they found their way to the royal court and were even included in the works of classical composers such as Chopin.
national dances. A true Polish folk dance is one of the most joyful and magnificent spectacles that tourists can enjoy in Poland. These dances are performed all over Poland but the first step to understanding the essence of these dances is to delve into their history.
Mateusz Misztal is one of those people who
have been dancing folk dances for almost half of his life. despite being a young person, proudly maintains Polish traditions. He has been dancing for exactly 13 years and when I asked him how it happened that he started dancing he laughed and jokingly added that he started folk dancing by accident. His friend was looking Despite many centuries of history, Poles have for a dance partner and since he had a sense kept the tradition and continue to dance their of rhythm and musical ear she did not have to persuade him for long. “At first it was an interesting way of spending free time, but later I could not imagine my life without folk dancing,” he added. When he was in high school, he enrolled in the “Boruta” Song and Dance Group in Zgierz, with which he first went to foreign folk festivals. Unfortunately, his group disbanded after some time, and as he loved this dance so much, he decided to join another group, “Bychlewianki”. With this group Mateusz goes to foreign festivals and shows people beautiful Polish folklore, which is very rich and diverse. Mateusz Misztal
15
