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The Polonaise The traditional Polish folk dance
HISTORY The Polonaise is a stately Polish processional dance, performed by couples who walk around the dance hall; the music is in triple meter and moderate tempo. The dance developed from the Polish dance (taniec polski) of the 18th century; this form, in turn, was derived from the chodzony (walking dance) which was popular in the 17th century and known as a pieszy (pedestrian), or chmielowy (hops) dance. The latter form had its roots in the folk wedding dances, from which it separated and then entered the dance repertoire of the nobility
According to the entry on the Polonaise in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, before the end of the 16th century the Polish folk dances that are ancestors of the polonaise were adopted by the lower ranks of the upper classes (gentry and lesser aristocracy). At first they retained their sung accompaniment, but as these dances became popular among people of higher status, the music was transferred to the instrumentalists who accompanied court dances.
DESCRIPTION The folk origins of the Polonaise are rather distant in contemporary interpretations by folk dance groups. The polonaise is usually danced in costumes of the Polish nobility of the 17th century (the kontusz jackets); some groups present their polonaises in costumes from the period of the Duchy of Warsaw (1811-1814) established by Napoleon before his defeat in 1815 (empire dresses, cavalry uniforms).
1. 2. 1. Because this dance has become known as one of the "gentry" or "nobility," the most appropriate costumes are those from 17th-century Poland which did not yet follow international fashions in clothing. 2. Since the polonaise has folk roots and is widespread throughout the whole country, it is possible to dance it in folk costumes.
‘So you think you can dance…’ Our students’ dancing performancestep by step ;)
We’ve also visited ‘Kurpie Zielone- song and dance folk band’ during one of their rehearsals.
Young dancers have presented the traditional way of dancig polonaise.
Professional folk dance instructor gave us an interesting lesson on traditional Polish dance history.
Polonaise performed by students of Primary School no. 16 in Białystok Hope all of you enjoy it
