POLONIA

           The POLONIA Song and Dance Ensemble was established in Chicago in 1986 under the patronage of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA), on the initiative of the choreographer and teacher, the late Cecylia Rożnowska.

           Mrs. Cecylia, with her love for Polish traditions, dance and music, inspired Polish youth to promote Polish culture in America, and around the world, through song and dance. In the footsteps of her beloved grandmother, Jaclyn Krysiński is now choreographer and artistic director of the ensemble, inheriting her grandmother’s dreams, artistic passion and love for Poland, as well as Polish folk and art.

           Under the leadership of Mrs. Cecylia, and her daughter Anna Krysiński, POLONIA has become one of the leading artistic groups in America, in regard to Polish music and folk dance. The music director of POLONIA since 1988, was multi-instrumentalist Mieczysław Dzis, who accompanied, composed and arranged the repertoire, conducted singing classes, and developed our dancers’ interest in beautiful and rich Polish music, until his retirement from the group in early 2024.

           The goal of the POLONIA Ensemble is to pass on to the next generation the treasures of Polish folklore with its uniqueness, diversity, and power of expression. The Ensemble’s artistic repertoire includes melodies, songs, and dances from regions all across the country of Poland.

The distinctive feature of the performances of the POLONIA Ensemble that separate it from other folk groups is the approach of the choreographers to maintain the authentic dance patterns of traditional Polish dances.

           In the 38 years of its activity, the ensemble has participated in the cultural and social life of the Polish and American communities in Chicago, with the splendor of authentic costumes, vitality and joy of polish songs and dances. The Ensemble promotes artistic passion and love for Polish folk dance and music, history, art, folk customs and traditions. It also inspires and motivates Polish youth to embrace their culture by singing and dancing locally, as well as around the world. Currently the ensemble consists of multiple groups of dancers, varying in ages from 3 to 30 years old.

            For years, the POLONIA Ensemble has been led by many excellent choreographers and instructors who contributed to the group’s artistic successes: Cecylia Rożnowska, Mirosława Szabla, Jadwiga Kościelniak-Malewicka , Monika Derdas, Krystyna Fijor-Borys, Iwona Puc, Barbara Kulesz, Ola Turos, Jaclyn Krysinski, Nicole Romek and Nina Romek. Thanks to their talents, the POLONIA Ensemble has become a real gem of the local Polish community in Chicago.

            Since the beginning of its existence, the POLONIA Ensemble has been an ambassador of Polish folklore, traveling to the farthest corners of the world, giving concerts in the USA and 27 countries, located in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South and North America, as well as the Caribbean Islands. For their merits and outstanding achievements in promoting Polish folk culture, the POLONIA Ensemble has received a number of awards including the main recognition – Festidanza CIOFF 2006 in Peru, and "Grand Prix" in the Euro Folk 2005 in Losenez, Bulgaria, Gold Medal of "Wspolnota Polska", has been awarded the Gold Medal of the "Polish Community" and is the recipient of the Oscar Kolberg Award in 2021.

           POLONIA Ensemble was honored to perform for the Pope John Paul II on two occasions, in Castel Gandolfo in July of 1998 and during His Holiness historic visit to the Holy Land in March of 2000.

In the past years our group has performed in the following international festivals: