On 23^rd of November at 5 p.m. Folk Song and Dance Ensemble “Częstochowa” will be having a solemn gala celebrating its jubilee. It has been developing continuously for 35 years. During this period of time over a thousand concerts have taken place, educating over two thousand young people by teaching them songs and folk dances with respect for tradition and the history of the country. Numerous groups of its former members are now professional dance teachers or choreographers, passing their skills to the next generations. Because of the high artistic levelled ensemble, Częstochowa has been often called ‘little Śląsk’ –connected with the fact that for 17 years its art manager and choreographer is Jarosław Świątek, the chief of ballet in the “Śląsk” Ensemble.

The group is the only one in Częstochowa, who has been educating school youths about the varieties of Polish dances, rituals and folk customs; every year reaching out to a few thousands of children and teenagers. Since 2000, it has been the host of the Days of European Folk Culture that are taking place in our city attracting over 50 thousand people annually. With its high level and an interesting repertoire expanding every year, the new dance schemes caused the ensemble to be nominated multiple times by the Polish organisation IOV to represent the country in international festivals, for example in China and Brazil. The ensemble is our cultural face which can be seen with their frequent concerts in cooperation with European partners of Częstochowa – Austrian Graz, German Pforzheim, Italian Loreto, French Lourdes, Lithuanian Szawle and Latvian Rezekne. “Częstochowa” has appeared in many European countries, as well as in the USA. Moreover it represented our country during the International Folk Festival in Shanghaj as the first amateur folklore group.

Also in its hometown, the ensemble’s activity is highly appreciated. The 30^th anniversary concert and music-dance spectacle “Carmina Burana”, in which the ensemble participated, received from the readers of “Gazeta Wyborcza” Daily the title of The Best Cultural Event of the Year. Amongst its numerous artistic projects, it is crucial to mention the organization of two operas with the artists of Great Theatre in Łódź – “the Haunted Manor” (“Straszny Dwór”) and “Halka” as well as staging “the Cracovians and the Mountaineers” (“Krakowiacy i górale”). Ensemble Częstochowa’s repertoire also consists of Christmas carols. Cultural spectacles like “Częstochowa’s Wedding” (“Wesele częstochowskie”) and “Midsummer Night” (“Noc świętojańska”) are very interesting and effective initiatives that are presented every year in various parts of Poland.

Lately, the ensemble has collected and compiled dances and folk songs from the nearby Częstochowa village regions that were kept in Jasna Góra Monastery’s collections. Works also included designing the regional clothes that were done with the cooperation with Museum in Częstochowa.

Currently Częstochowa consists of 90 dancers working in 4 age groups. The ensemble is performing over 30 concerts every year. Among many awards and distinctions they have received the Special Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage in 2008 and the Award of Częstochowa City in the Field of Culture in 2013 – for their total artistic activity and popularisation of traditional folklore in Poland and in the world.

Tadeusz Piersiak

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza – Częstochowa, 22.11.2013

People, who danced or have been dancing here for eight, ten and even more years say, that the “Częstochowa” Song and Dance Ensemble is the biggest adventure in their lives. They also say that the love for folklore is like an incurable germ – injected in their childhood lasting forever. Even if someone stopped dancing, the presence of this “germ” would be seen in some of the details of their clothing or decorative elements in the house.

Jubilee Concert

On Saturday evening of 23^rd November 2013, the stage of Częstochowa Philharmonic Hall undividedly belonged to Folk Song and Dance Ensemble “Częstochowa”, which celebrated its 35^th anniversary. Tickets were already sold out a few weeks before the performance. Preparations lasted many months, with over 100 dancers on the stage due to the “50+” dancers joining the basic group, who took their first steps in dancing almost 35 years ago.

From Kaszuby to Beskidy

“In 1978 when there was the first recruitment to the Ensemble, there were almost 200 candidates,” says Danuta Morawska, manager of Częstochowa Dance Ensemble for 26 years. “From this group of people 150 were selected, with whom the trainings begun. One year later the first program was presented – groups of dances and folk songs of Częstochowa’s region.”

There were a few twists in history. The existence of Częstochowa Dance Ensemble was in serious danger at some point but managed to escape. In 1990s,  the 20^th Century Ensemble, whose first patron was Częstochowa’s textiles facilities, and then Provincial Centre of Culture, was taken under the wings of Centre of Culture Promotion “Gaude Mater” in Częstochowa.

First having modest repertoires, it has been expanding every year by the new dance schemes. Now, depending on the character of the concert, the company can perform suites from regions of Częstochowa, Lublin, Silesia, Beskidy Mountains, Cieszyn, Kaszuby, Kurpie and others. In its repertoire it also has Polish national dances and two custom, outdoors spectacles: “Częstochowa Wedding” and “Midsummer Night”. The Ensemble represented Poland multiple times during international festivals in: China, Brazil and USA, thanks to the high artistic level and rich repertoire. It was also the face of Częstochowa during concerts that took place in Częstochowa’s partner cities like Graz (Austria), Pforzheim (Germany), Loreto (Italy), Lourdes (France), Rezekne (Latvia). Overall, the Ensemble has already performed concerts in 21 countries on 4 continents.

Grinding Talents

Over the past 35 years there has been 2 thousand people learning, singing and folk dancing with respect equally for tradition and the history of Poland. Currently the Ensemble consists of 80 members who are working in 4 different age groups. As in all of the disciplines, the beginnings are the hardest. “The road to the first concert is long and arduous,” says Danuta Morawska . “People outside the Ensemble think, that they’re going to come to 3-4 trainings and they will be dancing instantly. In the meantime, grinding elementary skills before the first concert lasts a year, often two or three years. Most of the people resign at this point, but when they finally go out on the stage and receive their first applause, they are already hooked by the “germ” that stays with them forever. Even if they leave to another city to study, they are still searching for the contact with the other folk groups.”

The artists’ efforts are not only the time sacrificed for their trainings; it is also a solicitous concern for the outfits. Apart from the kujawiak’s or oberek’s (Polish national dances) figures, they have to learn how to wash and starch cotton shirts and underskirts as well, how to iron ruffles and laces. Those, who take part in many suites, must have a few costumes and because of their authenticity, they are made from the natural materials. That is a lot to carry on long journeys.

Within 35 years the Ensemble has gathered a large collection of awards from festivals and competitions. Among these there is a Grand Prix – statue of “Szczyglik” and the Award of Silesia Marshal in Adolf Dygacz Children Song Competition “Silesia Singing”(“Śląskie Śpiewanie”). It is a particularly valuable trophy because in the history of this competition Częstochowa Song and Dance Ensemble was the first group except of Silesia to win the main prize. “It make us all happy, but our most important success is considering the fact that we still exist, because in the years of political change many good amateur companies failed to survive,” says Danuta Morawska. “Our pedagogical success is very important. We have numerous groups of our former dancers that are professionally engaging in choreography and dance – some of those were even accepted to “Śląsk” Ensemble. Also, we alone, as a group are more self-sufficient – the assistant of our artistic chief is our former student. Moreover our youngest age groups are led by our dancers.”

Life Adventure

“I danced in Częstochowa Ensemble for 10 years,” says Magdalena Winkler. “This is an unforgettable and special chapter in my life. Now, my seven year old daughter Natalia asks if she can sign up as well.”

This is not the only case when next generations want to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Work in the Ensemble favors in making friends and also growing mature love. Some people from the Ensemble would often get married and there are even children who, inspired by their parents stories, are working their way up on the stage. The Ensemble is not lacking in audience and candidates for now mean that Polish folklore is not an extinct relict. Shown in an interesting, artistic and authentic way, the Ensemble delights audiences both in Poland and abroad. It’s surprising that the most important media presents the Ensemble in a very restricting way. If some music genres were successfully ennobled in the form of different television channels then why are folklore groups only watched during special occasions, as if we were ashamed of them?

Anna Wyszyńska

Source: Niedziela – Tygodnik Katolicki, 26.11.2013